Angel Reese has clear opinion as perfect Caitlin Clark team-mate sets tongues wagging

Angel Reese has clear opinion as perfect Caitlin Clark team-mate sets tongues wagging

Angel Reese’s former friend-turned-rival has been eyed as Caitlin Clark’s perfect team-mate at the Indiana Fever.

Reese has enjoyed a whirlwind year, graduating from Louisiana State University and being the seventh overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. The 22-year-old landed at the Chicago Sky, where her impressive performances put her in contention for the Rookie of the Year award – though that was eventually won by Clark.

Comparisons between the power forward and point guard Clark have been the focus for much of the year, with the Fever star managing to lead her team to the playoffs while Reese’s injury left the Sky struggling. Now their rivalry could take another turn as Reese’s former LSU team-mate Flau’jae Johnson is being urged to join Clark at the Fever.

Johnson, who is preparing for her junior year at Baton Rouge, is one of the biggest names in women’s college basketball. The 21-year-old played alongside Reese for two seasons at LSU, even lifting the NCAA championship together in 2023.

The former SEC Rookie of the Year set tongues wagging recently by revealing her relationship with the Fever’s new head coach – Stephanie White. Johnson commented on the Fever’s appointment of White, who replaced Christie Side this month, and how she had wanted to recruit her while she was the head coach of Vanderbilt.

Johnson said: “The Indiana Fever having Stephanie White as a head coach, I really like that. I love that. I feel like she’s a player’s coach. I even remember when she was recruiting me at Vanderbilt, I was like ‘I like this lady. I want to go play for her.’ She ended up leaving Vanderbilt. But if she would have stayed, I probably would have had Vanderbilt in real consideration.”

Johnson’s revelation led to a buzz among Fever fans, who are excited at the prospect of her forming a backcourt partnership with the prodigious Clark. Should a move materialize, she would become a major rival of former team-mate Reese, with their relationship having deteriorated earlier this year.

Reese had previously been gushing in her praise of Johnson, saying in July: “She’s done so many great things. Being able to still see her thrive and excel, I remember we were there last year together.”

That respect and friendship has seemingly dissipated, with Reese leaving Johnson out of a list of her favorite college basketball players during a sit down with NBA legend Dwyane Wade. Amid rumors of growing animosity, the two former team-mates’ mothers went back and forth on social media recently.

Reese’s mother took a veiled yet pointed dig at Johnson’s mother, Kia Brooks, on Instagram, writing: “Folks pls do not send me long text msgs with a bunch of grammatical errors it gives me a headache, how do I know you said what you said if I can’t understand what you’re saying?”

Johnson and Reese’s friendship has broken down (Image: Getty Images)

Brooks responded by saying: “You definitely know about grammar errors when your daughter got a 2.0-or-less grade point average. Stop being petty, fake and hateful, and take responsibility for you and your daughter’s actions.”

Johnson first opened up about her shifting friendship with Reese at the start of September, stating: “Yeah, me and Angel, we aren’t as close as we used to be. But I still support her 1000 percent. I was proud of her, just being in the W[NBA] and breaking records.”

Johnson’s mother has also dismissed the idea of her daughter joining the Sky in the WNBA, saying her preference is to join the Los Angeles Sparks instead.