Is Caitlin Clark the WNBA’s next GOAT? Sure, but she might need Angel Reese to keep that storyline alive. The spicy rivalry between these two basketball stars has fans hooked like a prime-time drama, and if we’re being honest, what’s a hero without a worthy antagonist? Reese is Clark’s Joker to her Batman, and let’s be real — Batman without the Joker is just some rich guy with gadgets and a bat fetish.
So, why is Angel Reese, who isn’t exactly Clark’s biggest fan, so important to her legacy? If you ask certain analysts (or just any fan with a pulse), the rivalry between Reese and Clark is what’s keeping the WNBA at the top of its game. Without this head-to-head clash of titans, we might just be watching a highlights reel of Clark draining three-pointers in empty arenas. But now, thanks to Reese’s elite defense and the kind of attitude that says, “I’m not here to make friends,” Clark is no longer the only name on everyone’s lips.
Reese: More Than Just a Sidekick
Angel Reese isn’t content being Clark’s constant comparison point. As Seerat Sohi from The Ringer points out, it’s almost criminal that Reese gets mentioned as if she’s just an asterisk in the Caitlin Clark story. With 13.1 rebounds and 13.2 points per game during her rookie season, Reese wasn’t just filling up stat sheets — she was owning the paint like she’d personally built it brick by brick. But because Clark is basically the WNBA’s Beyoncé, the spotlight keeps slipping away from Reese, despite her being every bit as vital to the Chicago Sky’s success.
“And if it wasn’t for Clark changing the game with her mind-bending three-pointers,” Sohi argues, “Reese could’ve been a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.” But hey, who needs individual awards when you can have the satisfaction of being the only player capable of slowing down Clark’s highlight reel, right?
Clark vs. Reese: The Drama We Deserve
What’s a good rivalry without some trash talk? Reese gave us the legendary ring-pointing gesture and the unforgettable “You Can’t See Me” taunt after LSU’s championship win over Clark’s Iowa. This wasn’t just shade — it was a full solar eclipse. Reese knows how to get under Clark’s skin, and the fans love her for it. Forget sportsmanship, this is the WNBA, and we’re here for the drama!
Van Lathan from The Ringer perfectly summed it up: “Angel Reese, with her flashiness and brashness, going head-to-head with Caitlin Clark, America’s golden girl — that’s the kind of rivalry people write movies about.” They’re basically the Magic and Bird of this generation, except with way more sass and social media drama.
New Kids on the Block? Please.
Now, don’t get it twisted — the WNBA isn’t short on up-and-coming stars. Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins are making their way into the spotlight, but come on, they’ve got a long way to go before they can touch the Reese-Clark rivalry. Sure, they’ve got talent, but do they have the spice, the memes, the viral taunts that keep us glued to our screens?
According to Sohi, there’s just something about Clark and Reese that can’t be replicated: “Both of them have that it factor. They don’t just play the game; they make the game a spectacle.” And that’s the truth. Reese and Clark aren’t just athletes; they’re entertainers. They make every game feel like a must-watch event, not just for the basketball but for the fireworks.
Can We Handle More Drama?
For now, the Reese-Clark rivalry is carrying the WNBA on its back, and honestly, we’re not complaining. Whether it’s Reese’s gritty defense or Clark’s long-range heroics, these two have given us a rivalry that might just define the next decade of women’s basketball. And if the next crop of talent wants to keep up, they better bring their best — because this isn’t just about stats, it’s about who can make the game unforgettable.
So, as we wait for the next chapter in the ongoing saga, one thing is clear: Reese and Clark aren’t just rivals. They’re the WNBA’s answer to reality TV — and we can’t get enough.
