Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark always go together in any fan conversation. A record has been broken by Clark. Where does Reese fit in it? The first reaction of the fans after Angel Reese was on the NBA 2K25 cover with her signature Reebok shoes was “Where are the shoes from Nike for Clark?” Their rivalry has ignited the passion among the WNBA fans. The different fan bases in the league were pretty friendly before this rivalry. 

These players have ignited the intense passion among the fans, leaving the WNBA world divided. It has driven ratings, drawn fans to the stadiums, and piqued the interest of non-viewers. It has certainly been the most dramatic and happening rivalry in basketball over the last one and a half years. While the fans have missed these two facing off this season, after that one matchup on the opening night, it has still ruled the social media conversations. They are even rumoured to have real personal animosity, and all the actions so far certainly indicate that the two are not on the best of terms. 

With this in mind, one would expect Clark to be the first player in mind when it comes to giving her a piece of her mind. So it came as a surprise when she cited Paige Bueckers when asked who the opposing player they would like to hit a game winner on. Angel Reese forgot her iconic rivalry with Caitlin Clark and said, “Probably Paige, cause she talks a lot of trash. And we have known each other for a long time.”

Angel Reese and Sky are 3-0 against the Bueckers and the Wings, which isn’t saying much, as they are one of the few teams worse than them. But, both teams have two of the most electrifying talents the league has ever seen and are the future of the respective franchises and the league. However, this rivalry seems like a sporting one rather than one fueled with on-court fire from both sides. 

“I’ve known Paige for a long time. We were the No. 1 and No. 2 players in our [high school] class, so we’ve had a relationship for a really long time,” Reese said earlier. “It’s good to finally be able to play together instead of playing against each other.”

During their first showdown, Bueckers pointed straight at Reese after voicing a complaint to the ref, then shot her a knowing smirk. Moments later, the rivals shared a quick, warm embrace at midcourt. There is a competitive nature in both, but beyond that, there is little to show for an actual, fully-fledged rivalry. This answer, which avoided Clark, could be a diplomatic way of dealing with things from the end of Reese. 

Angel Reese Signals Avoiding Conflict Going Forward

This answer could mean a move away from inducing a conflict with Clark without any real reason. If Reese had mentioned Clark, the conversations would have once again shifted to their rivalry. And recently, she has been facing a lot of flak for her off-court behaviour, especially against the officials. Reese has accumulated 7 technical fouls and is one away from a suspension. 

She went on a rant against the referees and called for a change. While it was a valid argument and they did have a lot of missed calls in that Minnesota Lynx game, it put her in a bad light. Since then, Reese has been trying to shift narratives away from any kind of controversy. Even when she was dragged into one by Robert Griffin, she cleared the air immediately.

The accusation was that Reese’s inner circle had told him that Reese personally hates Clark, and she replied by writing on X, “Lying on this app when everybody knows the first and last name of everybody in my circle for clout is nastyyyy work.” Even Shaquille O’Neal leaped into her defense and threatened to punch Griffin. This indicates that she does not want to escalate the rivalry further. Her mother reinforced that alleged feuds are a media fabrication, and both Reese and Clark have maintained their relationship is “strictly competitive and not personal.”

Although the rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark remains a source of excitement, Reese is content to let it rest unless circumstances arise to rekindle it. Even as recent games saw both stars sidelined, fan enthusiasm has not waned as large crowds turned out, with Reese’s distinctive pre-game and courtside style drawing attention and Clark engaging with fans through extensive autograph sessions. Their sustained popularity continues to fuel fan engagement, and their prominence is likely to shape the WNBA for years to come.