When Caitlin Clark set a new scoring record with 191 points during the 2022-23 NCAA Tournament, WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes wasn’t impressed. Swoopes pointed out that while she had set her own record of 177 points in just five games, Clark needed an extra game to surpass it. The criticism didn’t stop there—when Clark became the all-time leading scorer in women’s NCAA Division I basketball this year, overtaking Kelsey Plum, Swoopes once again voiced her disapproval. Despite Clark’s achievements, Swoopes continued to downplay her success, frustrating Clark’s fans. Now, Swoopes has stirred the pot even further by publicly praising Clark’s rival, Angel Reese, despite Reese’s team, the Chicago Sky, suffering two recent blowout defeats.
During her appearance on the “Queens of the Court” podcast on Tuesday, Swoopes delved into the current state of women’s basketball. Although Clark has been setting records and elevating her team, Swoopes chose to highlight Reese’s performance, commending the former “Bayou Barbie” for her efforts, even as the Sky struggled.
“Shout out to Angel Reese even in a loss,” Swoopes said on the podcast. “Say what you want about how she’s getting those rebounds—you can’t just grab 20 rebounds by accident, I don’t care if you’re rebounding your own shots. Angel has a knack for the basketball; she’s always fighting to give her team more possessions. And you know what, I’m going to say this: I wanted her to stay in the game to get 20 points. She had 19, but a 20-20 game would’ve been something. But even 19 and 20 in a loss is impressive.”
Despite Reese’s double-doubles in all three games since the Olympic break, the Sky have lost two of those matchups by significant margins. In Friday’s game against the Phoenix Mercury, Reese’s efforts weren’t enough to prevent an 85-65 defeat. When the Sky faced the Mercury again on Monday, they were handed another loss, this time with an 86-68 scoreline.
What caught Swoopes’ attention, however, was Reese’s 19-point, 20-rebound performance in the latter game, prompting her to sing Reese’s praises. This latest show of support for Reese didn’t sit well with Clark’s fans, who are already upset with Swoopes for repeatedly criticizing or ignoring Clark’s achievements.
The Ongoing Feud Between Sheryl Swoopes and Caitlin Clark
The tension between Swoopes and Clark dates back to April 2023, when Clark broke Swoopes’ NCAA Tournament scoring record. Swoopes voiced her dissatisfaction at the time, pointing out that Clark needed six games to break a record that Swoopes had set in just five. Later, when Clark eclipsed Kelsey Plum as the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I women’s basketball, Swoopes dismissed the accomplishment, arguing that Clark had benefited from an extra COVID year to set the record.
Even after Clark joined the WNBA, Swoopes continued to critique her, labeling her primarily as a passer and suggesting that the Indiana Fever’s success wasn’t solely due to Clark’s contributions. In contrast, Swoopes argued that Angel Reese has singlehandedly kept the Chicago Sky in contention for the playoffs, despite their struggles.
Swoopes’ latest remarks have further irked Clark’s supporters, as she once again chose to celebrate Reese over Clark. While it’s unlikely that Clark will respond publicly to Swoopes’ comments, fans are hoping that she will let her performance on the court do the talking in her next WNBA appearance.
