WNBA journalist Jackson Thompson is pushing back on the backlash over his question to Caitlin Clark about her relationship with Angel Reese, insisting it came from genuine curiosity rather than any attempt to stir controversy.

Speaking with Dan Dakich, Thompson explained that the question grew out of what he actually observed during the FIBA Women's World Cup. He watched Clark and Reese sitting together on the bench, high-fiving, showing real chemistry on the court. This was a dynamic that felt very different from the rivalry narrative that had followed both players for years.

"I asked the question because I was genuinely curious about what I had seen that week between the two players as they looked like friends, and I believe other people should know if they are friends," Thompson said, as posted on X. "Because quite frankly, I think there's a lot of people out there who didn't know that and didn't assume that."

Thompson pointed out on X that both players had spoken respectfully about each other before, including Clark's 2024 comment to Time magazine that "we're not best friends, but we respect each other." But he said the absence of any clearer public update left an open question worth asking. 

"There had not been, unless I'm missing something, there had not been any statements from either of them clarifying that they were friends up until my question to her," he said. "I thought it was important that people did know."

Moreover, Thompson dismissed the idea that the question was designed to trap Clark, arguing that given media training and the setting, the only realistic outcome was a positive answer. He also suggested her strong reaction ended up amplifying the moment, making sure more people actually heard her confirm the friendship.

Clark, Reese, and the moment that went far beyond basketball

The history between Clark and Reese has been one of the most closely followed storylines in women's basketball. This traces back to the intensity of the 2023 NCAA tournament, including Reese's now-famous ring-finger gesture after LSU beat Iowa for the title, as per CNN Sports. 

That moment, paired with their contrasting styles and fan bases, helped fuel a much bigger cultural conversation with the two often framed publicly as representing opposite sides of something larger.

That story started to shift once the two began playing together for Team USA at the FIBA Women's World Cup, where they were seen sharing genuine moments on the bench, something that stood in contrast to years of rivalry-driven headlines.

Do you think Thompson's question was a fair way to clear up public perception, or was it an unnecessary distraction? 

Written by

Zaid Quraishi