Two years ago, Angel Reese remembers defeating Caitlin Clark in the NCAA Tournament: “It forever changed my life”

Two years after becoming a national champion, Angel Reese is thinking back on the experience.

Angel Reese recapped the moment she, the LSU Tigers, and Kim Mulkey defeated Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2023 to win the NCAA Division I Tournament in a message posted to X, formerly Twitter.

After defeating Clark and the Hawkeyes, Angel Reese claims that her life was “changed forever.”

Reese has been thinking back on her time during the NCAA Tournament, popularly known as March Madness, where she earned a national championship title with her former college, LSU, while the current teams get ready for the big game.

She acknowledged the occasion on X and stated that winning had a significant influence on her life.

“D-mn,” she wrote. “I won a natty [two] years ago today [and] it changed my life forever.”

Reese scored 15 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in 29 minutes of action during the contest. In addition, she had one block, three steals, and five assists.

Angel Reese Received Criticism for Celebrating After the Game

Naturally, the national championship contributed to Reese’s increased visibility. However, her jubilation after the game propelled her to a new level.

Cameras captured Reese performing John Cena’s well-known “you can’t see me” celebration in Clark’s face as the fourth quarter was coming to a close.

The Louisiana basketball player received a lot of criticism for “taunting” her opponent after winning. A new rivalry that will be remembered for years was also forged by the two players’ difficult interactions and intense competition.

After making a winning hand gesture, Angel Reese defends herself against critics.
Reese defended herself against the claims that she acted in “unsportsmanlike” fashion after LSU defeated Clark and the Hawkeyes.

She responded by pointing at Clark, who had already made the identical motion to another team in a previous game.

“All year, I was critiqued for who I was,” she told CBS News. “I don’t belong in the story or the category that you all want me to be in. I’m too hood.

I’m too ghetto. All year long, you guys told me that. However, when others do it and you all remain silent.”

“So this is for the girls that look like me, that’s gonna speak up for what they believe in,” Reese said. “It’s you, without apology. And for that reason, I did it tonight. Tonight, it was larger than me.

“And Twitter is going to get mad every time,” Reese continued. And I’m content. This year, I believe I have contributed to the growth of women’s basketball. I’m excited for the upcoming season and to celebrate.”

‘Personal’ isn’t how Reese describes the trash talk with Clark.

After competing against Clark multiple times in high school, college, and now the WNBA, Reese talked candidly about how the public views her connection with the player. The trash talk, she claims, is not “personal;” rather, it is one aspect of the game.

“I don’t think people realize it’s not personal,” the LSU standout mentioned. “There is no animosity between Caitlin Clark and me. That’s what I want everyone to realize. I simply wish more people understood that the game is so competitive.

Reese clarified that she doesn’t care to be amiable while she’s on the court.

“I talk to a lot of my buddies on the court while we’re not playing. We’re not pals, though, when I read between the lines. “We’re not friends,” she declared. “I will speak negatively about you. We can kick it after the game, but I’ll do whatever it takes to get inside your thoughts for the entire game. I’ll play the villain since I don’t think people truly understand that, and that’s okay.”

Reese and McDonald’s Made History

Reese has signed numerous lucrative contracts with well-known businesses and brands, such as Reebok, Beats by Dre, Reese’s, and McDonald’s, since taking home the national title in 2023.

The Chicago Sky rookie’s bacon quarter-pounder platter became the first meal agreement with a female athlete when the fast-food chain announced a special partnership with her in January 2025.

Naturally, this is not the first time that Reese has collaborated with the international series. She was selected as a McDonald’s All-American player in 2020 and played for her Baltimore high school, St. Francis.

“From getting a McChicken® Sandwich as a child to being named a McDonald’s All-American in 2020, McDonald’s has always played a significant role in my life,” Reese stated. Being the first female player to have her own meal and contribute to McDonald’s incredible basketball tradition is truly a dream come true. I hope that young athletes everywhere are encouraged by the Angel Reese Special to never give up on their goals.