Angel Reese was ‘upset’ with mentor Shaquille O’Neal in phone call over Charles Barkley’s Caitlin Clark rant: ‘Why didn’t you say nothing?’
Angel Reese called Shaquille O’Neal and was upset over Charles Barkley’s rant defending Caitlin Clark from ‘petty women.’
The tirade from Barkley came amid Clark’s rollercoaster rookie season. While the No. 1 overall pick has brought plenty of attention to the WNBA, she has also received welcome-to-the-league moments and criticism from players and media members alike.
In the latest episode of The Big Podcast, Reese’s mentor and fellow LSU product shared that the Chicago Sky rookie called him out for not responding to Barkley. O’Neal also noted not knowing what his TNT colleague referred to in his remarks.
‘Charles Barkley went on this rant a couple weeks ago. What was he talking about – Girls are petty?’ O’Neal said.
‘Angel called me [and] she was upset,’ O’Neal continued. ”Why didn’t say nothing?’ ‘Angel, ’cause Charles does what he always does. He takes up the segment, and by the time he gets done talking, we gotta get to the commercial.”
Angel Reese called Shaquille O’Neal and was upset over Charles Barkley’s ‘petty women’ rant
Barkley’s comments came in response to LeBron James telling Clark to ‘put the blinders on’ when dealing with the noise from the public.
Before Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves, Barkley took time to echo James’ remarks and clap back at Clark’s critics.
‘You women out there, y’all petty, man,’ Barkley began. ‘Hey, LeBron, you’re 100% right on these girls hating on Caitlin Clark – You’re all are petty girls.’
Speaking to O’Neal about the situation, co-host Adam Lefkoe suggested that the masses are making the narrative bigger than it is.
‘It was weird ’cause Angel Reese then came out afterwards with a tweet where I think she was addressing it,’ Lefkoe said.
Barkley’s remarks came in defense of rookie sensation Caitlin Clark from her critics
Clark and Reese were rivals in college and got drafted first and seventh, respectively in April
O’Neal serves as a mentor to his fellow LSU product and walked with her on senior night
‘It seems that [Barkley] went on a rant [and] some other people went on a rant. I think people are inventing women that are getting upset at Caitlin Clark when they’re not.’
‘Let’s make one thing clear,’ O’Neal responded. ‘One person may have the props, but it’s never one person. What about Angel? What about [Kamilla] Cardoso? What about my favorite, Kelsey Plum?’
‘I think people should focus on not just her. Because she is a great player, but don’t forget about [the] beautiful Cardoso and my girl Angel.’
