It was the game the world has been waiting for. The first rematch between the two most popular women’s basketball players since the ‘you can’t see me taunt’ Angel Reese did last year. Now the taunt ruling the headline this year is the “Reverse Jordan Shrug Meme” as Trae Young calls it.
41 points, 12 assists, 9 three pointers, those were the stats for Iowa’s Caitlin Clark as she continued her emergence as a force to be reckoned with leading her team back to the Final Four. Her performance against LSU has drawn comparisons to some of the greatest moments and players in basketball history, but the reactions from her opponents stole the show.
The LSU Players’ Reactions to Caitlin Clark’s Threes: Was the Jordan Shrug an Ultimate Fail?
During the game, Clark’s dominance from the three-point line was so extraordinary that it left the LSU players in awe. Despite having two defenders on her, Clark was hitting threes from near the logo, almost at half court. The LSU players, Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith, could only Jordan shrug in response. This reaction went viral, reminding basketball fans of a famous moment in NBA history.
Some people think this might be one of the most embarrassing fails in basketball history from the perspective of the defender. Hailey Van Lith did the Michael Jordan shoulder shrug for Caitlin Clark.
Usually the offensive player does the shoulder shrug. That’s basically admitting on Live TV that there is nothing you can do to stop her. Imagine Lebron doing a shoulder shrug after Stephen Curry hit’s a three over him. On social media Trae Young called the photo below the “Reverse Jordan Shrug” meme.
In the 1992 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan hit six 3-pointers in the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers. After hitting his sixth, Jordan shrugged to the crowd as he jogged back down the court, as if to say, “Yeah, I can’t believe it either”. This moment, now known as “The Shrug,” is one of the most iconic reactions in NBA history.
The LSU players’ reactions to Clark’s three-pointers have been compared to this moment. The only difference being that unlike Jordan who typically wasn’t a great long distance shooter, Clark was not hitting threes uncharacteristically, she does that regularly. The LSU players’ shrugs were not of defeat, but of disbelief and respect for Clark’s incredible performance.
Is Caitlin Clark the Female Stephen Curry?
Clark’s performance has also drawn comparisons to NBA superstar Stephen Curry. Curry revolutionized basketball with his deep shooting range and rapid-fire release. Clark, with her own impressive range and shooting ability, is being hailed as the female Stephen Curry.
Curry himself has praised Clark’s game, recognizing her incredible shooting ability and her overall floor game. He noted that Clark’s shooting ability is her superpower, but the rest of her game is as polished as that. Clark leads the country in scoring and assists, showing that she is not just a shooter, but a well-rounded player.
Caitlin Clark’s performance against LSU has solidified her status as one of the most exciting players in women’s basketball. Her shooting range, accuracy, and the reactions she got from the LSU players have drawn comparisons to some of the greatest moments and players in basketball history.
As she continues to break records and redefine the game, there is no doubt that Caitlin Clark is creating her own legacy in the world of basketball, and now is also the reason a “Reverse Jordan Shrug” meme exists.
