Both Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have faced instances of harsh on-court treatment, but is there a difference in sympathy for the two? Reese’s flagrant foul on Clark in their recent matchup has become the main topic of discussion from the game. While some believe the Bayou Barbie should be suspended for the same, most say it was a common basketball play. The same discussion emerged on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast with special guest, Sheryl Swoopes. While Swoopes pointed out the difference in reaction to the two instances, Gil provided the reasoning behind this.

Questioning the bias towards Clark, the WNBA icon stated there was a significant uproar when Clark was fouled hard by Chennedy Carter, but the same did not happen when Alyssa Thomas dragged Reese to the floor. However, Arenas believes the reason for this is that Clark has built her game as a “flopper” while Reese is playing into her “villain” role.

It started with Swoopes acknowledging that what Carter did was absolutely wrong. “Was that a basketball play? Absolutely not… It was not as hard as people say… But it was everywhere,” Swoopes said on the Gil’s Arena podcast. She further mentioned everyone wanted to talk about this, but the uproar for Reese went missing.

“When Alyssa Thomas clothes lined Angel and took her out… That was worse than what Chennedy did… But where was the uproar?…,” Swoops questioned. However, Gilbert Arenas had his reasoning for this disparity between the reactions. The former Washington Wizards star believes it has to do with Reese comparing herself to a villain. And although Swoops countered that this was back in her college days, Arenas emphasized that Reese has built her game so that she won’t get much uproar for such instances.

“She physically can handle herself. Right. When you look at Angel, you’re like, if they had a one-on-one fight, everyone’s going to pick Angel… The way she plays the game is a rugged style… she’s built for. Let’s combat. Let’s go out here,” he said.

As for Clark, the former NBA star stated the Fever rookie has built her game the way where she gets affected by the slightest of things. He cited the instance where Clark twisted her ankle after Ohio State fans stormed the floor back in January. “One’s a flopper… And that’s how she sells certain fouls. But with Angel, she’s rugged. She’s built for trying to bully,” Arenas said. But what is this uproar about?

What happened with Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark and how was the uproar different?

As for Clark, Carter committed an off-the-ball foul by shoving the 22-year-old to the floor during the first Chicago vs Indiana matchup. Declared a common foul during the game, the league later upgraded it to a flagrant foul. Amid all of this, there was a severe backlash against Carter for taking a cheap shot against the Fever rookie. So much so that Stephen A. Smith went to the extent of stating, “There are girls—young ladies—in the WNBA who are jealous of Caitlin Clark.”

Speaking of Thomas’ foul against Reese, the Connecticut Sun star had literally grabbed the Sky rookie by the neck and threw her to the ground. After reviewing the foul, the refs immediately declared it as flagrant 2 and Thomas was ejection. While it was not as if the incident did not receive enough media coverage or that Thomas did not face criticism, it all seemed way too little in comparison to the Caitlin Clark incident. However, none of the two stars had reacted harshly on their separate incidents.

Clark stated this to be a part of the game with an “it is what it is” approach. Meanwhile, Reese’s reaction seemed even more chill considering her incident was more aggressive in nature. The Sky rookie thanked AT for sending a message to her so that she gets back up and keeps going. “Me and A.T. have been cool since we were in Maryland, so I know it’s not no hard feelings,” she added. The reaction matches with Gil’s description of Angel Reese’s approach for the game. But the question that stands is if this disparity, irrespective of any reasoning, is fair in nature?

Stay tuned for more such updates. And to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.