Angel Reese pushes back on WNBA-Caitlin Clark popularity narrative: ‘Because of me too’

Angel Reese wants the credit alongside Caitlin Clark that she believes she deserves for the growing popularity of women’s basketball, and she isn’t going to back down from fighting for it.

The Chicago Sky star made it clear how she feels about it two days after the debate was reignited by teammate Chennedy Carter’s heavily scrutinized cheap shot on Clark during Chicago’s loss to Indiana on Saturday.

“I know I’ll go down in history,” Reese told reporters Monday. “I’ll look back in 20 years and be like: ‘Yeah, the reason why we’re watching women’s basketball is not just because of one person, it’s because of me too, and I want you to realize that.”

For Reese, sparking fans’ interest goes back to LSU’s national championship game win over Iowa two years ago, where she hit Clark with John Cena’s “You Can’t See Me” hand gesture to cement a rivalry that continued into last season and now the WNBA.

This year, Iowa ended LSU’s season in the Elite Eight and generated record TV ratings.
Angel Reese wants he contributions to the WNBA's popularity recognized.

Angel Reese wants her contributions to the WNBA’s popularity recognized.ESPN

Reese became arguably just as recognizable as Clark and was the focal point of plenty of scrutiny during her senior season, which included a bizarre benching.

“It all started from the national championship game, and I’ve been dealing with this for two years now,” Reese said. “Understanding, yeah, negative things have probably been said about me, but honestly I’ll take that because look at where women’s basketball is.

“People are talking about women’s basketball, who you never would think would be talking about women’s basketball. People are pulling up to games. We got celebrities coming to games, sold-out arenas just because of one single game.”

Fever star Caitlin Clark

 

Fever star Caitlin Clark was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.Michelle Farsi/New York Post

Reese, who seemingly cheered on Carter from the bench after her flagrant foul on Clark made it clear that she’s OK taking on that type of role if it helps bring attention to the game.

The foul has sparked a debate about what the WNBA should be doing to better protect Clark or if the Fever need to find an “enforcer” to help her.

Still, Reese believe she and others are also generating attention, not just the star of Clark — the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer and the WNBA’s No. 1 draft pick in 2024.

Pat McAfee got into hot water on ESPN for calling Clark a “white bitch” in a segment Monday on “The Pat McAfee Show” that presented some metrics that the Fever star is at least the lead driver of the attention in the WNBA.

“A lot of us have done so much for this game,” Reese said. “Chennedy has been here before, but there are a lot of great players in this league who have deserved this or a really long time.”