In a story laden with coincidence to the rise of the NBA, another college rivalry in the form of Caitlin Clark versus Angel Reese put the women’s side of the sport in the national limelight. But, according to a Los Angeles Lakers legend, they should have some patience before they bring their talents to the WNBA headlines. Instead, the current model stands to benefit them better than a hasty entry to the professional league.

Mychal Thompson, a legend in the league, both as a player and an executive had some mighty praise for Clark. “Don’t call me crazy coz I’m older than you guys and I’ve actually paid attention to women’s basketball. I love women’s basketball. She is the best women’s basketball player I have ever seen.” 

Watch This Story: Angel Reese VS Caitlin Clark Stats: How Are The NCAA’s Arch-Rivals Performing This Season?

Name-dropping some of the all-time greats, the father of Klay Thompson was ready to put her in the same category. “I’ve seen them all. Diana Taurasi, Cheryl Miller, Lisa Leslie, Sue Bird, we’ve all seen them all, Brittany Griner. She plays, she has all the skills. So, she can turn the corner, she can dribble, she can crossover, she can pass, rebound.” But there is one thing that separates her from the rest.

“And nobody. No woman has ever had her shooting range. I’ve never seen a woman player like her.” Mychal does think she should stay longer at the collegiate level though. Because, even within his friend group, despite not watching the women’s game, Caitlin Clark is where they make the exception.

But, if he were choosing, “I’d say, ‘Caitlin, go back to Iowa. The WNBA will be there.’ Coz she has the chance. She will have the 4,000+ points and nobody’s gonna touch that for generations to come. She’s a goddess in Iowa. She’s making a bunch of NIL money.” 

However, he does think the teams in the WNBA should throw the bank at her to lure her away. She changed the face of the sport alongside Angel Reese and Louisiana, could the two do the same for the pros?

Could Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese be the new-age Larry Bird – Magic Johnson?

Can one name change the face of a sport? If the history of basketball is anything to go by, then the answer is hell yes. While unimaginable today, the NBA was a taped program on television that viewers had to watch on repeat. But, with the arrival of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, the entire discourse took a U-turn and the league became the juggernaut it is today.

For the WNBA, that very movement may very well be upon us. The parallels are honestly eerie. Whether it is two basketball prodigies taking over collegiate basketball, with their clash in the National Championship Game putting the sport at the forefront, or the back-and-forth since.

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Once Magic and Bird came into the league, there was no looking back. Could the same thing be happening in the WNBA? At least, we can hope for better security there.

Dominating the NCAA With Unrivalled Performances, Caitlin Clark Eyes Another Historic Record