Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky have brought a lot of attention to the WNBA, and some believe they have been treated unfairly by older players who are resentful that they did not receive the same degree of attention when they first joined the league. Geno Auriemma, UConn women’s basketball coach, discussed that dynamic and the best road forward for WNBA players.
“[Caitlin] and Angel Reese are not the two best players in the WNBA, but they’re the two most talked about players in the WNBA right now,” Geno Auriemma told @VanshayM on X. “If you’re one of those players, in response to your question, you can complain and groan about why they weren’t talking about me when I was here, or you can just enjoy what it is and seize the opportunity now. But at some time, it will always be about the game. It will not be about all of the other things that happen off the court or in extracurricular activities. “At some point, all of them will have to be extremely good.”
“[Caitlin] and Angel Reese are not the two best players in the WNBA, but they’re the two most talked about players in the WNBA right now. If you’re some of the players… you can moan and groan about why weren’t they talking about me when I was here… or you can just appreciate… pic.twitter.com/bl199sJ9lz
— Vanshay Murdock 🎥🎥 (@VanshayM) June 27, 2024
Vanshay Murdock 🎥🎥 Vanshay Murdock 🎥🎥 @VanshayM · Follow “[Caitlin] and Angel Reese are not the two best players in the WNBA, but they’re the two most talked about right now.” Some players may complain about not being mentioned throughout their time here. Alternatively, you might simply appreciate.
Auriemma has recently stated that the expectations placed on Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are unrealistic, and that there should have been some expectation that they would struggle. The older WNBA players were not going to allow them come in and dominate as rookies, and Auriemma indicated that Clark, in particular, will need some time to physically prepare to compete in the WNBA. There’s no shame in that; he also stated the same thing about UConn star Paige Bueckers playing in the WNBA right now.
Regardless, Clark and Reese have a bit of a rivalry, which benefits the league. The Fever and Sky have faced off three times, with Indiana winning the first two before Chicago won the third on Sunday thanks to Reese’s finest game in the WNBA to date.
How are Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese doing in the WNBA?
Clark’s WNBA career with the Fever has seen her average 16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists while shooting 39.9 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from three. Clark will likely want to enhance her effectiveness throughout the season and her career as a whole. There is still time, and she has demonstrated the talent that earned her the top pick.
With the Sky, Reese averages 13.2 points per game, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. The rebounding percentage is particularly amazing, and it is a component of her game that has transferred directly from college. She does, however, shoot 40.6% from the field, which she hopes to improve.
Both players have shown promise this season, but there are still areas for improvement. Overall, both of them have contributed significantly to the league’s visibility.
