Caitlin Clark’s performance on September 14, 2024, wasn’t merely exceptional; it was historic. She shattered the WNBA’s single-season assist record, surpassing Alyssa Thomas’s 316 assists with her remarkable 321st assist. Social media buzzed with admiration, declaring Clark “the most prolific passer in WNBA history.” Her performance that night was nothing short of legendary, scoring 18 points, delivering nine assists, and grabbing eight rebounds, nearly achieving a triple-double effortlessly. Fans and media celebrated her achievement, cementing her status as the “Steph Curry of women’s basketball.”
However, amidst the celebration was Angel Reese, another powerful figure in women’s basketball, who had been steadily carving out her own legacy. Reese was no stranger to media attention herself, but Clark’s record-breaking feat seemed to strike a nerve, igniting an intense rivalry fueled by comparisons and scrutiny. Reese’s subtle yet noticeable discomfort became evident when reporters asked for her opinion on Clark’s record-breaking performance. Her response, detached and reserved, betrayed a deeper frustration: “I don’t really care what everybody else thinks. I am who I am, and I just want to be better every day for my teammates.”
The tension between the two stars wasn’t merely about one night’s performance—it was rooted in a series of events where Reese found herself unfavorably compared to Clark. Every spectacular highlight from Clark seemed to coincide with a public stumble by Reese, amplifying the scrutiny and criticism she faced.
One glaring example was a critical game on August 30, 2024, when Reese, playing for the Chicago Sky, faced a pivotal moment against the Connecticut Sun. Charging down the court in a three-on-one fast break, Reese had an easy layup opportunity, only to miss dramatically. The Sky ultimately lost the game 82-80. Media and fans seized upon this error, using it as a symbol of Reese’s growing pattern of faltering under pressure.
Further fueling the narrative was a previous incident on July 12, 2024, in another intense match against the Dallas Wings. Reese missed two crucial free throws in the last 30 seconds, causing her team to lose 79-77. Headlines questioned Reese’s capacity to handle pressure, suggesting these mishaps might define her legacy.
Meanwhile, Clark continued to thrive under the spotlight. On July 21, 2024, she cemented her clutch reputation by draining a buzzer-beating three-pointer, securing an overtime win against the Minnesota Lynx. While Reese struggled with late-game scenarios, Clark consistently delivered, capturing the hearts of fans and media alike.
The rivalry intensified further on August 5, 2024, during a match against the Atlanta Dream. The Sky trailed by one point with mere seconds left, and Reese once again found herself at the center of a pivotal play. However, her attempt at a game-winning layup missed its mark, resulting in another heartbreaking loss (88-86). The repeated close-call failures started casting shadows over Reese’s abilities, with critics openly questioning her mental toughness.
Clark’s success became the mirror reflecting Reese’s challenges, placing the two stars in constant comparison. Experts and commentators fueled the narrative further, dissecting every move Reese made and praising Clark’s consistent excellence. This contrast reached a peak on August 22, 2024, when Clark single-handedly led her team to victory against the LA Sparks, scoring eight points in the final two minutes, including two critical three-pointers. In stark contrast, Reese’s ongoing struggles seemed to deepen.
The scrutiny became so intense that Reese temporarily withdrew from social media, seeking refuge from the relentless criticism and comparisons. In a candid moment, she admitted, “I’ve deleted social media off my phone… just being able to meditate and do self-care.”
Despite her retreat, the rivalry narrative persisted, with many fans deeply invested in the unfolding drama. Some argued passionately for separating the two players’ stories, highlighting their distinct playing styles and talents. Others believed the rivalry was crucial to enhancing interest in women’s basketball, offering the drama and intrigue that drew fans to the game.
While Clark remained celebrated for her spectacular achievements, Reese faced an uphill battle to reclaim her narrative and confidence. Whether this rivalry would spur Reese to new heights or continue to burden her with pressure was uncertain, but one thing was clear: the ongoing saga between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese had captured the imagination of fans, elevating the drama within the WNBA to unprecedented levels.
Caitlin Clark Says It’s ‘Disappointing’ Her Name Is Used for Racism, Misogyny Towards Other WNBA Players
The Indiana Fever rookie said “it’s not acceptable” for people to use her name to “push those agendas”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/caitlin-clark-061024-1-a04eaf7c15d84aa083d6695740c3a2a3.jpg)
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever. Photo: Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty
Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark has spoken out against the online commenters using her name to spew racism and misogyny aimed at other WNBA players.
Before tipoff in the Fever’s 91-84 win over the Atlanta Dream on Thursday, June 13, a reporter from The Athletic asked Clark, 22, for her response to the hateful remarks made in her name.
“Yeah, I think it’s disappointing,” Clark said. “I think everybody in our world deserves the same amount of respect. The women in our league deserve the same amount of respect.”
The No. 1 overall draft pick continued, “People should not be using my name to push those agendas. It’s disappointing, it’s not acceptable.”
Clark explained that she “grew up admiring and wanting to be a part of” the WNBA and that “some of the women in this league” were her “biggest idols” growing up.
“Treating every single woman in this league with the same amount of respect, I think, is just a basic human thing that everybody should do,” Clark said. “Just be a kind person and treat them how you would want to be treated. I think that’s very simple.”
Earlier in the day, the WNBA star was asked a similar question but lightly skirted around the topic by saying she keeps her focus on basketball rather than outside noise.
“I don’t put too much thought and time into thinking about things like that, and to be honest, I don’t see a lot of it,” Clark said. “Basketball is my job. Everything on the outside, I can’t control that, so I’m not going to spend time thinking about that.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(983x261:985x263):format(webp)/caitlin-clark-iowa-nike-billboards-030524-49588c28f429453b96583c430bcca24d.jpg)
Caitlin Clark.David Berding/Getty
Clark’s initial response to the topic seemingly fell flat with Connecticut Sun guard Dijonai Carrington, who took to X (formerly known as Twitter) with a pointed response.
“Dawg. How one can not be bothered by their name being used to justify racism, bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia & the intersectionalities of them all is nuts,” Carrington, 26, wrote in her post.
“We all see the s—. We all have a platform. We all have a voice & they all hold weight. Silence is a luxury.”
Since she was drafted into the WNBA, Clark’s popularity has brought with it positive and negative discourse around her impact on women’s basketball.
Clark’s introduction to the league sparked debate over a handful of topics, including accusations that other players are committing harder fouls on her, and players like Angel Reese saying the growth isn’t because of just “one player” amid narratives that Clark is the sole reason for the WNBA’s exponential success this season. The online discourse stormed up again earlier this week when the Fever rookie was left off of the Olympic roster.
Clark, though, said she understood the decision.
“Honestly, no disappointment,” Clark said. “I think it just gives you something to work for. It’s a dream. Hopefully one day I can be there. I think it’s just a little more motivation. You remember that, and hopefully in four years when four years comes back around, I can be there.”
