Since the beginning of the 2023-24 NCAA women’s basketball season, no state has searched “Angel Reese” more than Iowa.
Louisiana, where Reese actually plays her college ball, ranks second, about 20% behind the Hawkeye State.
LSU defeated Iowa for the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball national championship, and during the game, Reese used a taunt popularized during the championship tournament by Iowa star Caitlin Clark, directing it back at the hoops standout from the Midwest.
The incident became hot fodder for “sports take” talk shows and social media and led to a debate about sportsmanship and race, since Clark had never received the backlash that Reese did over the gesture.
For her part, Clark defended Reese in the aftermath of the title game.
"I think everybody knows there's going to be a little trash talking the entire tournament," Clark said in April. "It's just not me and Angel. I don't think she should be criticized. LSU deserves it. They played so well. I'm a big fan of hers."
Since that incident, Reese has risen to national prominence as one of the biggest female sports stars in the country. And certainly, the public will be hoping for an LSU-Iowa rematch and another Reese-Clark showdown this spring as the Tigers look to repeat as national champions.
Until then, it appears the state of Iowa is keen to keep tabs on the top Tiger. Lucky for them, it seems she’s always just a few clicks away.
