Caitlin Clark’s Stardom Thanks to Angel Reese Rooted in NBA’s $390M Breakthrough- Report

As the WNBA’s greatest storyline in the making, the class of 2024 jolted the foundations of the league. While Caitlin Clark’s swift transition into the pros received commendable attention across the W, it was largely attributed to her so-called rival, Angel Reese. Rivalries have a way of defining basketball’s biggest moments on the stage. These clashes are more than just exciting moments on the hardwood. They are storylines crafted over the years, by fans, media, and most importantly, by the players involved. So when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird’s rivalry continued into the NBA, the once competitive relationship began with, “I didn’t want him to win anything. I didn’t want him to get no accolades.”

But a few years down the line saw Larry’s sour thoughts changed dramatically. After the two recognised found a common ground, Magic was recorded saying, “Once I got to know him, I realized he was just like me. He wanted to win more than anything.” While Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese refuted rivalry rumors on several occasions, the apparent friction is said to run along similar lines. At least that’s what a national reporter believes.

National reporter Joy Taylor joined host Cam Newton on the latest episode of his podcast.”Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have that polarization to them naturally. That moment with Angel Reese pushed Caitlin Clark into this other space where she was a crossover figure outside of sports,” Taylor stated. “Now, they’re constantly positioning her against Caitlin Clark. And Caitlin Clark against Angel Reese. There’s so much more to the sport than that.”

While a rivalry this strong in women’s basketball was rare, the narrative not only found its way in the professional league but also largely dictated viewership, attendance records, and ticket sales. Clark’s presence created a stir with 76% increase in ticket sales and commanded a 3.44 million All-Star viewership last season. As two of the strongest players in the W today, the Clark-Reese conversations drive a potential storyline that grabs eyeballs and carries a good amount of revenue for the league.

While the narrative helped the league generate large revenue and sign a whopping $2.2 million media deal, they were not the first ones to do so. “If you know some sports history, you know the NBA was failing,” Joy Taylor pointed out. “It was a failing product. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird came into the NBA. The Magic switchover happens. Magic winds up with the Lakers and Dr. Buss. Larry goes on his way. They have their battles. The Celtics, the Lakers- they save the league, right?”

During the late 1970s, the NBA was grappling with widespread financial losses, with 16 teams already on the verge of bankruptcy. As the attendance dropped by a million, the teams played with an average of just 10,021 fans, which covered barely 58% of the arena capacity. Stunned by the dramatic decline, the NBA was “in deep yogurt,” per Phoenix Suns’ partner, Richard Bloch. But coincidentally, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Larry Bird’s progression in the league in 1979 overlapped with a period of significant economic growth for the NBA.

So, when the two well-known collegiate rivals, Magic and Larry, progressed to equally rival teams in the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, the clashes generated a peak audience interest. Besides, the two have faced each other a total of 27 times in the NBA and the regular season finals. Each time they stepped on the same court, their appearance minted money for the league. Needless to say, the league began earning a dramatically high revenue, thanks to Bird and Johnson.

“[It] wasn’t just because two great players came into the league and then were great. It’s because they had a narrative. It’s because Magic was perfect for the Lakers and what Dr. Buss was building, and they were able to create this marketable product that people cared about and were attached to,” Taylor explained. The strong and compelling storyline, coupled with the post-game interviews, drew a sea of audience to the games. After all, the audience wanted to watch how the team versus individual rivalry plays out, game after game.

Besides, with David Stern donning the Commissioner duties in 1984, the league generated a revenue worth $118 million.   Moreover, the annual projected revenue soared from $110 million to a projected $500 million between 1980 and 1989. The number further jumped to over $400 million by 1989. While the $390 million breakthrough can be attributed to the rise in television viewership and licensed merchandise, the credit for this leap is largely due to Johnson and Bird’s efforts.

The two athletes stuck to their flawless gameplays, their discipline, and the mutual rivalry. It was this strong narrative that became the driving force of the league’s massive revenue collection systems. While the two rewired the financial foundations of the NBA, the women’s league, too, was witness to a similar seismic shift in 2024 as another pair of LSU-Iowa triggered a storyline waiting to happen.

“You don’t have to think that Angel Reese will become Larry Bird or Magic Johnson or that Caitlin Clark will be the greatest player in WNBA history or not. None of that matters,” Taylor clarified. “It’s the storylines behind them. It’s the polarization. It’s the animosity. It’s the conversation that they generate, the marketing dollars that they generate, the eyeballs that they generate. You cannot manufacture that. And that moment, it’s like selling a fight.”

The viewership numbers skyrocketed even with Reese and Clark sidelined as their teams clashed in July 2025. The game witnessed  1.5 million viewers on ABC. Banking heavily on the rivalry this season, these shocking numbers solidify the fact that their storyline is driven beyond the players and into the teams. With even Indiana Fever fans being added to the mix, it is these narratives that largely determine the revenue of a national league.

Having said that, this season has witnessed the birth of newer narratives and storylines. While the Reese-Clark narrative still remains the largest driving force for the W, certain aspects surrounding players and certain teams, like Sophie Cunningham and her tryst with the Connecticut Sun, have largely made the headlines this season. And as the WNBA copes with officiating troubles and highly physical games, the Chicago Sky and Reese became the latest victims of the undoing.

Angel Reese steps out of her comfort zone against the Connecticut Sun

When the Chicago entered a highly physical game against the Connecticut Sun on Saturday, they knew that tempers would soar. But the game took a gruelling turn during the early minutes of the second quarter. With just 8:05 minutes into the game, when Sky was trailing 33-20, Sky HC Tyler Marsh noticed something unusual.

Before Elizabeth Williams could attempt a driving layup, two Sun athletes grabbed her and tried pushing her to the ground. But as luck would have it, Williams released herself from the tight grip before missing an 8-foot jump shot. When HC Tyler Marsh witnessed the incident being played out, he decided to immediately report to the nearest referee.

But in a bid to alert the official, the HC was ejected from the hardwood instead of calling a foul on the Sun players. This further escalated tensions between Marsh and the official. And before verbal altercations could turn physical, forward player Angel Reese dived in and held Marsh from the back. She stepped out of her comfort zone and pulled him away from the refs as Sky’s coaching staff stepped between the two.

Despite facing on-court ejections and consequent fines for their extremely foul play against the Indiana Fever, the Connecticut Sun failed to mend their ways. The roster continued to harass other teams and players, with hardly any calls from the officials. After injuring Sophie Cunningham twice this season, the Sun tried meddling with Sky players again. Remember the hair-pulling incident revolving around Angel Reese and Sun’s Bria Hartley? But this time, Williams and HC Marsh became the latest victims of the ordeal.

As the WNBA progresses towards the most-awaited playoffs this season, the league has yet to act against the loopholes. While physicality has always persisted in the league, it is the inconsistent officiating and poor calls that set a wrong precedent. No wonder Tyler Marsh could no longer sit through the disrespect.