In the women’s final four NCAA basketball tournament, second seed Iowa won 77-73 against No. 1 seed South Carolina. During the game, starting point guard for Iowa, Caitlin Clark, waved off South Carolina guard Raven Johnson while Johnson was wide open at the three.

Clark received support on the internet by those who said she didn’t guard Johnson simply by just waving her off. This action was taken as “the ultimate savage move” by Clark. Toward the end of the game, Clark did John Cena’s “you can’t see me” hand gesture and was still praised.  

On April 2, Iowa faced Louisiana State University. During the last five minutes in the game, LSU forward Angel Reese taunted Clark, doing the same John Cena gesture and pointing to her ring finger, signifying LSU was going to be the 2023 champions. Clark seemed unbothered and concentrated on the game.

LSU defeated Iowa 102-85 to claim its first title in what was the highest scoring championship game to date. This game was also the most viewed NCAA D-1 women’s basketball game on record with 9.9 million viewers.

A day later, controversy started as Reese was called disrespectful, unsportsmanlike, no class and a so-called “thug.”

“Why are we going back and forth as women if we’re supposed to be growing the game together, why can’t we be together?” Reese said in an interview with ESPN.  “I feel like we’ve went into a space where it’s black women against white women, and that’s the negative part of it.” 

In 2020, Reese committed to play at Maryland as the No. 2 player in the nation. Her freshman year was cut short after she fractured her foot in the fourth game. After two years, Reese decided to transfer to LSU.

Now she is a national champion and the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, leading LSU to its first title in program history. Reese also has the NCAA record of most double-doubles in a single season with 34.

Clark, who set a record performance with a 41-point triple-double game in the Elite Eight, was named 2023 Women’s Wooden Award Winner.

 “I don’t think Angel should be criticized at all,” Clark said. “Men have always had trash talk. …You should be able to play with that emotion.  …That’s how every girl should continue to play.”

Both players said they had no problem with each other, and trash talking during games was something that anyone should be allowed to do. 

Another controversy erupted  First Lady Jill Biden invited Iowa along with LSU to come to the White House. She invited them because it would be a sportsmanship thing to do.

LSU took offense to this because they thought if it was the other way around, they would most likely not be getting the offer to go to the White House as runner-ups.

“I don’t think runner-ups usually go to the White House,” Clark told ESPN. “I think LSU should enjoy the moment for them.” 

Reese put out a statement saying, “We’re not coming period.” However, the team decided to accept the offer and will be going to the White House to celebrate. 

“I’m too hood, I’m too ghetto,” Reese told the press. “Y’all told me that all year. But when other people do it, y’all don’t say nothing. So this is for the girls that look like me.”