Indiana Fever’s rookie sensation, Caitlin Clark, has been lighting up the WNBA like a Fourth of July sparkler. Meanwhile, Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky is grabbing every rebound in sight like she’s collecting a paycheck for each one. With the WNBA season winding down, ex-rapper-turned-podcast philosopher Joe Budden decided to throw his hat (and mic) into the ring on the Clark vs. Reese debate. And in true Joe Budden fashion, he didn’t hold back.
Clark and Reese: The WNBA’s Answer to Jordan and Rodman?
Apparently, Budden is convinced that the gap between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese is akin to the vast chasm separating Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman. Now, that’s some high praise for Clark—or a subtle shade at Reese, depending on your perspective. After all, we’re comparing a sharpshooter with a knack for assists (Clark) to a rebounding machine with a podcast (Reese).
For context, Clark is currently leading all rookies in scoring with a cool 18.0 points per game, dropping bombs from deep with an average of 2.8 three-pointers per game, and setting up her teammates like she’s Oprah handing out gifts—8.1 assists per game, to be exact. Meanwhile, Reese is leading the league in rebounding, snatching an impressive 12.9 boards per game, proving that while Clark might shoot to kill, Reese is there to clean up the mess.
But Joe Budden, being Joe Budden, had to spice things up. “I’m telling y’all, and I’m not trying to cause a kerfuffle, Caitlin Clark is a hell of a lot better than Angel Reese,” he proclaimed, adding that Reese’s rebounding is about as useful as comparing Dennis Rodman’s skill set to Jordan’s. Yeah, we said it—Jordan and Rodman. Budden, however, forgot to mention that Rodman did win a few championships by grabbing every rebound in sight. Small oversight, Joe.
Joe Budden vs. Everyone Else
Of course, Joe didn’t stop there. Why would he? “She’s had enough of you Olympic hs,” Budden continued, referencing Clark’s fiery form since being left out of the U.S. Olympic team. “She is smoking you bites out there,” he added, clearly trying to break Twitter with his choice words. (And it worked—thanks, Joe.)
Budden’s stance sparked a debate online. Some fans rallied behind his pro-Caitlin stance, while others felt he was out of line by comparing the two rookies to basketball gods. As for Caitlin Clark, she’s been letting her game do the talking. The Indiana Fever, riding a 4-1 record since the Olympic break, have been climbing the standings like they’ve got somewhere urgent to be, all thanks to Clark’s 23-plus points in three of those five games.
Meanwhile, Reese’s Chicago Sky has been floundering in the bottom half, which might explain why Clark is now the runaway favorite for Rookie of the Year. The sportsbooks have practically locked in Clark for ROY honors, with platforms like DraftKings, FanDuel, and ESPN Bet removing the option to bet on her because, well, it’s basically a foregone conclusion at this point.
Reese’s Fans Aren’t Going Down Without a Fight
But don’t count out Reese’s fans just yet. They’re still making their case in the court of public opinion. After all, rebounding isn’t glamorous, but it’s still a key stat. And Reese does have that “double-double princess” title, not to mention a podcast deal and a sponsorship with Reese’s Pieces candy—talk about brand synergy! Plus, let’s not forget: Rodman’s rings speak louder than Budden’s podcast mic.
So, who’s right? Is Clark the next MJ in sneakers, or is Reese’s rebounding prowess worth more than a bag of chips and a few headlines? One thing’s for sure—this debate isn’t cooling down anytime soon. Just ask Joe Budden.
