Let’s not give the rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark a racial caricature. Matt Leinart did not receive that memo.
The Reese-Clark debate continues to heat up and has created division on social media. While one side is adamant that Reese’s jealousy of Clark is getting the better of her when the two athletes face off, the other side quickly reminds that passion is part of the game.
The former NFL quarterback dropped a massive bomb on X just a day before the World celebrated Father’s Day. Shortly after the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese was adjudged to be a flagrant one foul for mistiming her jump and hitting Caitlin Clark on the side of her face, Leinart did not waste any time and wrote that Reese should be suspended.
Angel Reese should be suspended. Period. Not good for the game.Matt Leinart wrote on X
Angel Reese should be suspended. Period. Not good for the game.
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) June 16, 2024Fans were shocked to read Matt Leinart’s alleged racist post on Angel Reese
It did not take long for Reese’s supporters to flock to his comment section accusing the former Arizona Cardinals quarterback of being a racist. They were angry and shocked to see a former athlete have a derogatory view of another athlete.
Few even pointed out that Leinart was finally showing his true colors as an individual.
So you pushing the soft agenda or you showing your true colors? 🤔
— CLE ❌IKE (@216_Wildboy) June 16, 2024The 41-year-old tried to play it off by sharing cryptic follow-up posts, but the damage was done. Those who followed him since his USC days must be very upset with his statement.
The amount of hate I’m getting, my goodness. I feel like @ClayTravis 😂
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) June 16, 2024You played in the NFL and you are now this soft.
This was a hard foul, upgraded to a flagrant.
Refs got it right, but that was a basketball play and this professional women’s basketball which isn’t physical game.
— just1n (@just1nvest) June 16, 2024You and the folks like you are bad for the game 💀
— Efeso100 (@Efeso1001) June 16, 2024Naw they need to suspended your account on here for this egregious take.
— Saint (@SaintWah) June 16, 2024Where was this same tweet when Skylar Diggins was elbowed in the mouth, or when Angel Reese was clotheslined? You are starting to show your bigotry, and it's sad. You do not cover women's basketball or watch it enough to give a comment, so keep your mouth shut.
— Jamara Hudson (@jamara23732) June 16, 2024Shut up. You couldn't name 10 WNBA players without Google. That play was as random as any foul we see.
Comments like this are what keep the Corn People stirred up.
— Etoya R. White (@EtoyaWhite) June 16, 2024Just a reminder that Matt Leinart has had a voice in athletics for over 20 years and yet his first mention of women’s basketball was earlier this month. https://t.co/CCsYNsUfHH pic.twitter.com/7xu5C1EEUp
— Alex Achorn (@alexachorn) June 16, 2024Old white dudes when it comes to hating on Angel Reese https://t.co/BKKFOmU7s9 pic.twitter.com/0LXY4X8at2
— ✈️ (@JJETSFAN) June 16, 2024Caitlin is cool with the foul, but Matt Leinart ain't? Again, the prob ain't Clark or Angel Reese. The problem is mostly men in media, & esp white men, who ignored the WNBA until 2024, and finally entered the chat to protect a white woman who never asked them to protect her. https://t.co/EyeLT9GNiR
— #StopCopCity (@ChuckModi1) June 16, 2024Regardless, the Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark feud may be bringing a lot of views to the WNBA, but at the same time, it also paints a negative image for young girls who aspire to play basketball when they grow up.
Analyst tried to clear the air
Meanwhile, Fox Sports analyst Emmanuel Acho took Reese’s side calling the challenge on Clark a bad basketball play. However, he added that if she keeps behaving the way she has, then it will only prove them correct who believe she has a personal vendetta against Clark.
Acho disagreed with Matt Leinart and asserted that Reese should not be suspended.
It was [just] a basketball play. But now what I will also say is: Angel your actions are starting to speak so loud, we can’t hear what you are telling us.Emmanuel Acho said
The host of Speak recounted a statement from Reese from March 31st saying that she and Caitlin Clark don’t hate each other. However, her actions speak a different tone.
[However] your actions vehemently disagree, because, after Chennedy Carter’s cheap shot, you get up and celebrate….Emmanuel Acho said
Angel Reese should not be suspended, it was a pure basketball play— so let me dispute that wild notion.
But somebody gotta tell Angel it’s starting to look like she really got an issue exclusively with Caitlin Clark
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) June 17, 2024Then, two days later, Reese said she would take on the ‘bad guy’ role and even wore shoes inspired by the villainous Joker from DC.
There have been 540 minutes of Chicago Sky basketball… of which Caitlin Clark has played 74 minutes against the Sky. The Sky only has 2 flagrant fouls all season. You wanna know who those 2 fouls were on? Caitlin Clark.Emmanuel Acho said
The addition of Reese and Clark in the WNBA was supposed to be the rebirth of the league. However, many remain more focused on skin color than the sport itself.
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