The Atlanta Dream took a heartbreaking 95-91 overtime loss against the Indiana Fever after Angel Reese missed an open layup that would have won the game, but it was Caitlin Clark’s reaction to the heartbreaking miss that absolutely set social media on fire. If you thought the rivalry between these two had simmered, you were dead wrong, because Clark literally had the last laugh.
The Heartbreak At The Buzzer
The game was tied at 81-81, with mere seconds ticking off the clock. Reese snagged a rebound right under the basket, setting herself up for what looked like a clean, easy shot to seal the win. But you know how sports goes sometimes, right? The shot just didn’t fall. The ball agonizingly rolled on the rim before Dream forward Naz Hillmon grabbed the rebound, but she didn’t have enough time to get a good shot off, missing as the buzzer blared. Reese was immediately hunched over in pure dejection, getting consoled by her teammates. And that’s when the cameras caught Clark. While Reese and her squad were living in frustration, Clark was caught on camera walking right behind them, smiling and openly laughing at Reese’s misfortune. Seriously, it was wild.
The Internet Called It The ‘Meme Of The Year’
Needless to say, that moment went instantly viral. Fans everywhere were blowing up social media, especially with the long history between these two rivals. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy summed it up, writing it was the “Top 1 gif of all time.” Indiana Fever content creator Ken Swift agreed, calling it “The Gif that keeps on giving. Reese blowing the bunny and Caitlin cheesing.” Hall of Fame sportscaster Linda Cohn had a poignant take, posting, “Sometimes life happens the way it’s supposed to, especially with these two.” Barstool Sports personality Rico Bosco just needed three crying-laughing emojis to capture the mood. Clay Travis of OutKick was quick to predict, “Angel Reese missed a wide open lay up to win the game and Caitlin Clark laughing behind her as she reacts to the miss is going to be a meme for a long time.” Rachel DeMita of Courtside Club didn’t hold back, declaring, “Caitlin with the meme of the year.” Even DraftKings chimed in on X, saying, “Caitlin Clark laughing at the Dream after Angel Reese missed a layup to win at the buzzer… The RIVALRY is alive.”
This back-and-forth rivalry has been going strong since their college days, full of dramatic moments and intense competition. This time, though, it was Clark who absolutely got the last laugh, and we mean that literally. You know we’ll be watching every single matchup from here on out. The rivalry? It’s definitely alive.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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