WOKE Joy Taylor TRIGGERED By Caitlin Clark Popularity, CREDITS Angel Reese for HER SUCCESS!

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In a year where women’s basketball has captured unprecedented national attention, few storylines have been as polarizing—or as powerful—as the ongoing rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. This week, that rivalry spilled over from the court to the airwaves, as Fox Sports host Joy Taylor ignited a heated debate on social media with her comments about the roots of Clark’s popularity and the role of race in the WNBA’s new era.

On a recent podcast appearance, Taylor—never one to shy away from controversy—argued that Caitlin Clark’s meteoric rise to stardom owes much to her on-court clashes with Angel Reese, the unapologetic, trash-talking forward who led LSU to a national title over Clark’s Iowa squad in 2023. Taylor’s comments, which included pointed references to the reactions of “white men” to Reese’s brashness, quickly went viral, with supporters and critics alike weighing in on what has become one of the most closely watched rivalries in sports.

“The Magic-Bird Moment” for Women’s Basketball

Taylor’s take was as bold as it was controversial. “When Angel and Caitlin got into it in the championship game and Angel did the ring thing, I said, ‘This is the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird moment for the WNBA. This is great. I’m a storyteller. I think storylines are so important. You need villains. You need heroes. You need to sell a fight,’” Taylor said.

She continued, “It upset white men to watch this strong, winning, unapologetic Black woman be in Caitlin’s face—in their savior’s face. And they still cling to it.”

Taylor’s assertion: without that viral moment—when Reese taunted Clark with a “you can’t see me” gesture and pointed to her soon-to-be championship ring—Clark’s legend wouldn’t be what it is today. “We would not be talking about Caitlin Clark the way that we do if it wasn’t for that moment with Angel Reese,” Taylor declared. “I will die on this hill.”

Critics Push Back

Not everyone agreed. The podcast’s host, along with many listeners online, pushed back hard against Taylor’s framing. “She somehow thinks that white men—though she didn’t say white women—were upset that this win and this Black girl is all in Caitlin Clark’s face. That’s just, to me, one of the dumbest things ever,” the host replied.

He argued that Clark’s success stands on its own, citing her record-breaking stats, work ethic, and the way she’s captured the imagination of basketball fans nationwide. “Caitlin Clark has made the WNBA, in my personal opinion. Nobody was even watching these girls like that. But then you watch some of the things Caitlin Clark is able to do and accomplish…this is why she’s so prominent.”

He also pointed out the double standard in Taylor’s argument. “If you actually believe that, then will you be willing to say when Caitlin Clark is successful now…that all the Black people were upset that this white girl is balling on Angel Reese? But she can’t say that, because these racist weirdos pick one side and act like it’s just a white people thing.”

The Role of Race and Rivalry

Taylor’s comments tapped into a broader conversation about race, gender, and the changing face of women’s sports. The Clark-Reese rivalry has undeniably brought new eyeballs to the WNBA, but it has also exposed fault lines in how fans—and even players—interpret competition, celebration, and criticism.

For her part, Taylor sees the rivalry as a net positive for the league. “Storylines are so important. You need villains. You need heroes. You need to sell a fight,” she argued, likening the Clark-Reese dynamic to the Magic-Bird rivalry that helped launch the NBA into the mainstream in the 1980s.

But critics say Taylor’s focus on race and her suggestion that Clark’s popularity is owed to Reese’s taunting oversimplifies the story. “Caitlin Clark was already a phenomenon,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “She broke records, hit impossible shots, and carried her team. The rivalry made things spicy, but Clark was already a star.”

Physical Play and the “Protector Effect”

The debate didn’t stop at race and rivalry. The conversation turned to the physicality of the WNBA, with some arguing that Clark has been targeted by opponents because of her fame. “They literally poked a girl in the eye just the other day, then they hit her, knocked her on the ground…I think it is displacement,” the host said, referencing recent hard fouls against Clark.

Taylor and others pushed back, noting that physical play has always been a part of the league. “There’s fights all the time. There’s just new fans to the WNBA and they aren’t used to watching this, and they have this protector thing over Caitlin,” she said.

Who Benefited Most?

Perhaps the most interesting thread in the debate was the question of who benefited more from the rivalry—Clark or Reese. Taylor insisted that without the championship showdown and Reese’s taunt, Clark’s legend would be far smaller. But others argued the opposite: “I think that moment helped Angel Reese more than it did Caitlin Clark. I think nobody would be talking about Angel Reese if there had not been a moment like that,” the host said.

He pointed out that Clark’s popularity has continued to soar, while Reese has struggled to match her rival’s impact on and off the court. “Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark ain’t in on the same planet. So why would White [fans] be mad at Angel Reese? She ghetto…she ain’t going to be able to be good in the WNBA, in my opinion. She’s going to fizzle out because all of that only takes you so far.”

A New Era for the WNBA

Regardless of where fans fall on the debate, one thing is clear: the WNBA is in the midst of a transformation. Clark’s arrival has brought record TV ratings, sold-out arenas, and a wave of new fans. The league’s stars—both established and up-and-coming—are navigating a new level of scrutiny and opportunity.

As Taylor herself acknowledged, “Caitlin Clark’s legend was growing. Today it would be tough to argue that she’s not one of the most recognizable faces in basketball.” Whether that’s because of Angel Reese, the viral moments, or simply Clark’s transcendent talent is up for debate.

What’s not in question is that women’s basketball has never been hotter—or more fiercely discussed. And as the Clark-Reese rivalry continues to unfold, the WNBA’s future has never looked brighter.