Caitlin Clark is the Larry Bird of the WNBA

[Tobra]

Pistol Pete if you are a bit older I suppose

People come to see her play, to the point the games are played at larger arenas when she comes to town. Seems like a nice young lady too, handling the pressures placed upon her adroitly. Bird had Magic, a worthy foil, and their rivalry brought a lot of money and attention to the league. I wonder if the WNBA marketing department will come up with something like that

[Sooner or later]

Angel Reese

[astrochex]

Her fellow players don’t seem to agree.

They don’t care that she is filling seats.

[Tobra]

Angel Reese has a given name that is not as apt as Earvin Johnson's nickname.

Does Ms Reese pack them in the seats?

Other players don't care about attendance eh? Guess they missed that semester of Econ

[917_Langheck]

Every sport has good and great players, and every once in a while we get to see the one that is just that bit more special, a bit more gifted or more nuanced in execution.

Let's hope her craft isn't reduced to crass exploitation.

[Bugsinrugs]

I said this before. Gretzky elevated hockey where other players started making bigger money. Clark can do the same for women’s basketball but they have to keep her healthy.

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Angel Reese has a given name that is not as apt as Earvin Johnson's nickname.

Does Ms Reese pack them in the seats?

Other players don't care about attendance eh? Guess they missed that semester of Econ

They are both rookies.
It is neck and neck for Rookie of the year.
They played against each other in the 2023 National Championship game. Reese won.
They played again in the Elite 8 this year with Clark winning that one.
Media has already tried to stir up a rivalry.
Clark had more 1st team AA elections. Clark won college regular season mvp. Reese won NCAA Tournament MVP.

WNBA states
Clark (6' guard) 16.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.5 steals
Reese (6'3" forward)13.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 steals

They both play for sub .500 teams in the same conference.
A damn good chance of a lengthy rivalry between the two.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/caitlin-clark-angel-reese-beef-history-explained-iowa-lsu/e73dd26ee42cb1928ed9ef51

The Bayou Barbie made two gestures during the national championship, hitting the "You can't see me" hand wave and pointing at her ring finger, with Clark just a few steps away.

After LSU won, critics came after Reese's trash-talking. But Clark, who made the same "You can't see me" gesture earlier in the tournament, didn't let that fly.

[KFC911]

I loved the BirdMagic .... they needed each other and these two are special too .... maybe even moreso for wimmins' b-ball...

It's awesome

[Tobra]

S or L, they are not in the same class

[KFC911]

I did NOT like the Lakers ... or Magic ... but my hs pal had to guard Worthy once .
The MagicBird era was epic ... won't be topped. And then came MJ ... ditto ...

Both these wimmins got game too ... enjoy it!

[Sooner or later]

You asked a question and I answered with reasons why. Who is your pick as a rival moving forward?

Some more info.

ESPN has Reese as their current favorite for Rookie of the Year
https://athlonsports.com/wnba/espn-releases-official-wnba-rookie-of-the-year-rankings-caitlin-clark-angel-reese

Both are playing in the All Star game. (The only 2 rookies in the game)
Their All Star bios.
https://www.wnba.com/news/all-star-2024-selections
Caitlin Clark, Fever (1st All-Star selection): The No. 1 overall draft pick in 2024, Clark is pacing all rookies in scoring (16.2 ppg), assists (6.9 apg) and made three-point shots (56). Among all players, Clark ranks 16th in scoring, second in made three-pointers and third in assists. The Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month for May, she is the fastest player in WNBA history to reach at least 300 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists. Using a minimum standard of 15 career games played, Clark ranks first among WNBA rookies all time in made threes per game (2.8) and second in assists per game (Ticha Penicheiro, 7.5 in 1998).

Angel Reese, Sky (1st All-Star selection): The No. 7 overall draft pick in 2024, Reese was named the Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month for June. With 10 points and 16 rebounds at Minnesota on Sunday, Reese set a WNBA single-season record for consecutive double-doubles with 10. For the season, she leads the WNBA in rebounding (11.4 rpg). Using a minimum standard of 15 career games played, Reese ranks second among rookies all time in rebounding, trailing only Tina Charles (11.7 in 2010).