With WNBA season back underway, the rookie players Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark will be going all out for the Rookie of the Year award. This rivalry has been a treat to all the enthusiasts as it traces back to their unforgettable showdown in the NCAA Final, where Reese made headlines with her gestures towards the former Iowa guard. However, WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes, who has been vocal in her critiques of Clark, recently shared her thoughts on that intense final game and has also got some advice for Chicago Sky forward Reese.

The former WNBA legend, Swoopes, witnessed the NCAA final action firsthand as she recalled it being an engaging game because of all the reasons including the trash talk and gestures exchanged between Reese and Clark. However, she later came up with an argument that defended Reese’s actions. “Whatever trash talking it happens in men’s sports all the time and it’s not like it’s not an issue, it’s not a debate. But, when it happens in women’s sports, in particular women’s basketball, I think people try to make it out to be more than it really is,” Swoopes said on Whistle. 

It was when Louisiana State University outclassed Iowa Hawkeyes and lifted the NCAA championship, Angel Reese taunted Caitlin Clark with John Cena’s “you can’t see me” gesture, then pointed to her ring finger, symbolizing her championship victory. Swoopes also expressed that she was nothing, but all smiles for Reese as she said, “She (Reese) has gone on record, she says all the time ‘I’m just going to be authentically me’. In that moment to see her win and, and to be able to celebrate with her, her team, I had nothing to do with it but it did my heart good.”

Sheryl Swoopes shared a couple of advice for Angel Reese

“I would say two things to Angel and one would be, continue to be you, right? Don’t, don’t ever change for anybody because as long as you’re living your truth and you’re being true to who you are, you will be happy,” Swoopes opined as she advised Reese to stick to authenticity always. And this suggestion ‘coming from Swoopes’ is quite obvious because she has also been blunt throughout and hasn’t cared what people think, even after retiring.

Well, that was not it, as she continued in her guide role for Reese. “The second thing I would say to her, continue to keep people around you that genuinely care about you, not people that are here for the moment, right? Like what can I get from you. They’re passionate about things you’re passionate about and they’re going to look out for you right. You need those people around you that will also be like ‘Angel, that’s not good’ and just keep being you,” stated Swoopes.

It would be interesting to see what Reese would take from Swoopes’ advice as she has been nothing less than spectacular until now. Chi-Town Barbie has started all the 25 games for Chicago Sky this season and has been impressive averaging 13.4 points and 12 rebounds per game. As she continues to shine for the Chicago Sky, it will be fascinating to see how she embraces Swoopes’ wisdom and goes for the ROTY against her arch-rival Caitlin Clark.