Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese have injected new energy into the WNBA, bringing with them a fierce rivalry that has not only boosted the league’s viewership and merchandise sales but also significantly increased voter turnout for the WNBA All-Star game. Both rookies have shattered records and earned spots on the All-Star team, but it’s their intense head-to-head matchups that truly capture fans’ attention.
The rivalry between Clark and Reese, which began during their college days, has seamlessly transitioned to the professional level, where their on-court clashes are often accompanied by spirited trash-talking. WNBA legend Sue Bird, a well-known fan of competitive banter, is fully supportive of the dynamic they’ve brought to the league.
In a recent interview with Rachel Nichols on the ‘Open Run’ podcast, Bird expressed her excitement about the positive impact Clark and Reese’s rivalry is having on the WNBA.
“When you look at Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, what they’re doing in the W right now, as someone who loves some good trash talk, what do you think of what’s going on with that rivalry?” Nichols asked.
“I love it, I love it,” Bird responded enthusiastically. “Basketball in the women’s game has always had rivalries, competitiveness, and trash talk—it just wasn’t getting the attention it deserved. But now, with Caitlin and Angel, they’ve not only dominated the college stage with their play and their trash talk, but they’re also bringing that energy into the WNBA.”
The Clark-Reese rivalry first gained national attention during the 2023 NCAAW national championship, where Reese’s LSU Tigers defeated Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes. However, Clark has since evened the score by winning their next three professional matchups.
Bird believes that this rivalry is exactly what the women’s game needs to continue growing in popularity. “It’s just going to mean good things for the rest of the landscape of women’s basketball,” she said. “So I’m all for it. I think it’s great. They’ve come in, and they’ve taken over.”
As a former player for the Seattle Storm from 2002 to 2022, Bird’s opinion carries significant weight. During her illustrious career, she won four WNBA championships, made 13 WNBA All-Star teams, and secured five Olympic gold medals with Team USA. Bird’s endorsement of Clark and Reese’s rivalry highlights its importance not just for the players involved but for the future of the league as a whole.
