The WNBA’s fiercest court rivalry just spilled onto the NFL turf. Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, whose on-court battles have defined rookie seasons, are now locking horns over Super Bowl loyalties—and it’s a little more than a friendly banter.
For her recent Unapologetically Angel episode, the Chi-Town Barbie had a vlog to substitute for the usual couch talks– it was the behind-the-scenes for the Celebrity Football game a day before Super Bowl! On her way to the venue, Reese blurted out her team of choice for the big day, defying Clark’s public support for the Kansas City Chiefs. “I’m going with the Eagles tomorrow,” she declared, and there were reasons.
“I like Jalen Hurts,” the rookie began. But the second one was a bit closer to home. “Second reason, Kah [Kahleah Copper] my teammate, and third, I like to see new things happen.”
(Stay tuned—this showdown’s far from over).
Geno Auriemma’s statement shows what Caitlin Clark must do to become the GOAT
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma was full of praise for Diana Taurasi after the Phoenix Mercury legend announced her retirement from professional basketball on Tuesday
Geno Auriemma described Diana Taurasi as “the greatest winner in the history of basketball” – placing her above Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and the rest of the WNBA.
On Tuesday, Taurasi announced her retirement from basketball, leaving behind a legacy that is almost impossible to replicate. The 42-year-old is a three-time champion, 14-time All-WNBA selection, 11-time All-Star, and MVP, among many, many other accolades.
Considering how long Taurasi’s list of accomplishments is, Clark understandably has a long way to go to reach the basketball legend’s status. And Auriemma, Taurasi’s former coach at UConn, explained what the Indiana Fever star and her WNBA rivals must accomplish to be in the same conversation as the former Phoenix Mercury star.
“In my opinion, what the greats have in common is, they transcend the sport and become synonymous with the sport,” Auriemma said in a statement. “For as long as people talk about college basketball, WNBA basketball, Olympic basketball: Diana is the greatest winner in the history of basketball, period.”
In the same statement, Auriemma explained how it was difficult for him to put into words how Taurasi’s retirement is for him, especially considering he was alongside the star when she accrued her college and Olympic accolades. “When someone’s defined the game, when someone’s had such an impact on so many people and so many places,” he said.
“You can’t define it with a quote. It’s a life that is a novel, it’s a movie, it’s a miniseries, it’s a sage. It’s the life of an extraordinary people who, I think, had as much to do with changing women’s basketball as anyone who’s ever played the game.”
Diana Taurasi is widely considered to be the greatest women’s basketball player of all time, with some believing Caitlin Clark is one the way (
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Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
With Taurasi hanging up her sneakers and Clark entering the second year of her WNBA career, many around the league believe the latter could be the one to fill the hole the former has left. In Taurasi’s eyes, what makes the task somewhat easier is how the WNBA is more visible than it has ever been, leading to more brand recognition among the players.
“It’s a challenge for women, for us to support each other, as we know,” she said during an appearance on ‘The View’ following her retirement announcement. “You’re going to long lengths to make sure all women’s sports are on TV. That’s the thing that’s always been the most important is visibility.
“When you learn about these athletes at an early age, like we are now with the Caitlin Clarks and Angel Reeses and Paiges (Bueckers), you get to follow their stories. They did in the ’90s and 2000s, but not at the length with social media, and that light is really what’s going to make this go forward. This next generation is bullish. They don’t just shut up and dribble like we did. They’re loud.”
Taurasi also praised Clark for what she’s done in just her first year in the league. “It’s amazing what Caitlin’s been able to do in her short career so far,” Taurasi said after a game between the two. “The one thing that I really love about her, she loves the game. You can tell she’s put the work in… It’s been a lot of pressure, a lot of things thrown at her, and she keeps showing up and keeps getting better every single game.”
And if Clark wants to take the title away from Taurasi, her impact will have to go beyond the court, which appears to be the case, considering how many fans were introduced to the league by the star.
