The Summer Olympic Games are blazing on, and while the United States women’s basketball team dunked on Japan in their first match, the real buzz is about two rookies who didn’t make the flight to Paris: Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Both are currently basking in the sun on well-deserved vacations, but their so-called “rivalry” has taken an unexpected alley-oop from none other than NBA legend Reggie Miller.
Reggie, the Indiana Pacers icon and a Hall of Famer who knows a thing or two about intense matchups, decided to weigh in on this modern-day duel. And boy, did he slam it home! In an interview with USA Today Sports, Miller didn’t just shoot from the hip; he launched a three-pointer from downtown on the impact of social media on today’s athletes.
“In my day, we had one paper and one beat writer. That was it,” reminisced Miller. “Now, Caitlin and Angel have to deal with everyone and their grandma tweeting, posting, and TikTok-ing from their basements.” Can you imagine? The great Reggie Miller being critiqued by someone who’s never left their couch? The audacity!
Clark and Reese, who faced off in the 2023 NCAA championship game, have been shadowboxing through their debut WNBA seasons. Their teams, the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky, have kept the rumor mill churning with every clash. But Miller believes the real opponent here isn’t each other – it’s the incessant chirping of the social media masses.
“Cheryl and Lynette Woodard never had to face this noise,” Miller pointed out, referring to his sister and another women’s basketball trailblazer. “Now, every play, every mistake, every success is magnified a thousand times.” If social media had existed during Miller’s era, would we have seen viral clips of him schooling the Knicks or endless debates on whether his trash talk was too harsh? Probably. And it would have been epic.
Despite the digital din, both Clark and Reese have managed to shine. These rookies were All-Star picks in Phoenix, and they’re already making their mark. Reese leads the WNBA in offensive rebounds per game and is second in total rebounds per night. Clark, not to be outdone, tops the league in assists per game. Her assist to Reese during the All-Star Game? Pure gold, and naturally, it went viral faster than you can say “Caitlin Clark.”
But while Reese seems to thrive in the social media spotlight, posting boldly and often, Clark prefers a different playbook. “She cuts off the devices and stops the noise,” Miller said, almost approvingly. “She doesn’t let it affect her.” That’s right, Clark’s secret weapon isn’t a crossover dribble – it’s the off button on her phone.
So, while the debate rages on whether Clark and Reese should have been in Paris, maybe the real story here is how they’re navigating a game that’s as much about managing tweets as it is about making baskets. And if anyone can turn that pressure into diamonds, it’s these two rising stars.
In the end, Miller’s advice is simple: “Sometimes you just have to stop the noise.” Easier said than done, Reggie. But if anyone can do it, it’s Clark and Reese – the new queens of the court and the viral sensation that keeps on giving. Now, if only we could get Reggie to tweet about it.