How Angel Reese responded to missed layup that led to viral Caitlin Clark moment
· Yahoo Sports
The WNBA has become a core piece of modern sports rivalries. One of its biggest rivalries dates back to college basketball and the women’s March Madness Tournament. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have become not only the faces of a rivalry, but perhaps the faces of the WNBA.
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On Sunday, the two met once again. This time, Clark’s Indiana Fever took on Reese’s new team, the Atlanta Dream. The game went down to the wire. Reese had a chance to win it in the fourth quarter but missed what appeared to be an easy layup.
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The moment sent the game to overtime. While Reese composed herself with support from her teammates, her arch-rival Clark went viral for grinning. The Fever ultimately won in overtime, 95-91. Reese remained silent following the game but opened up to reporters on Tuesday.
Aug 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots against Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) during the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Colin Hubbard-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Sleepless in Atlanta
“It was very tough for me. I didn’t sleep, and the competitor in me wanted to win that game so bad … I replayed that play so many times, but I’m like: Why would I let one moment dictate everything else that I have going on that is positive?” Reese told reporters.
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“So just being able to show up again for my team. It would have been negative for me not to come out tonight and just bounce back, and I knew they expected it from me. So just being able to do it obviously against [A’ja Wilson], trying to deflect as many passes as I can. I mean, she’s going to get her shots up, of course. But just knowing my spots and how great I am defensively to put pressure on her.”
Aug 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) reacts after missing a layup against the Indiana Fever during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Colin Hubbard-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)It certainly was not a moment Reese will want to remember. The three-time WNBA All-Star understandably had a tough time processing the defeat. One can imagine that losing to her biggest rival, who also got a viral moment out of it, only added to the sting.
The Dream are now 22-13, while the Fever are 24-12. The playoff race is beginning to heat up, and a game like this could have helped Atlanta move closer to securing a spot in the postseason.
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