It all started from the National Championship game. Angel Reese dropped the mic when giving people a clearer view of the reason why they really started watching women’s basketball. The Caitlin Clark fan army might not like the fact but LSU alumna too has quite a hand in the WNBA’s booming name. But so do the rest of the rookies in the 2024 draft class. Fans have surely loved the rivalry between these two superstars. The bursting arenas in their matchups are proof. But is the WNBA using their rivalry as well as the NCAA did? 3x NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas doesn’t think so.

According to the Washington Wizards legend, the WNBA is not utilizing the power of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. In fact, he has a completely different take on the origins of this rivalry. “They’re using a rivalry in college. The WNBA, you didn’t have rivals, and you didn’t promote your rivals. The college did. This is a college thing. This is not a WNBA theory. These girls made their name in college. They were college famous,” Agent Zero said on Gil’s Arena podcast.

He also talked about how these girls had nowhere else to go because they were already graduating. He further slammed the league, saying, “You’re inheriting something you wasn’t ready for. You’re getting something that you didn’t even work for. You wasn’t prepared for it. That is the truth.” That claim is not entirely true as Clark did have a stunning offer from Ice Cube’s Big3 league after graduating.

After giving his views about how the WNBA is not cashing in on the rookies, Arenas also gave a few examples. These, for him, not only prove that this draft class has attained something that no one else could but also give the league a warning to stop pushing negative narratives.

Gilbert Arenas sets the record straight for Caitlin Clark and the rookie class

Fans are creating a lot of theories, debates, and controversies surrounding the WNBA’s growth. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, and many others have said that the previous athletes have set the stage for them. Nevertheless, their influence has given the league the highest numbers in its 26 years.

Whether you look at the 400,000-fan attendance or a 750% increase in the WNBA store transactions, the rookies have broken the ceilings this time. Still, the WNBA is going to face a whopping $50 million loss. Something that is not sitting right with Gilbert Arenas.

He gave an example of why Caitlin Clark is the face of the league despite the 2x WNBA champ A’ja Wilson having the best season. Arenas also referenced Monica McNutt’s comment to Stephen A. Smith for promoting the league 3 years ago. He said, “You can’t feed us something we don’t want to eat.” He simplified it, saying, “If the public wants Caitlin Clark, stop trying to give them steak. It only hurts your business.”

Arenas also added, “If you take Caitlin Clark out of the equation, Angel Reese is moving numbers. She alone is bringing those numbers that you didn’t by yourself. Caitlin is a whole different beast. What we’re trying to make these two, at the end of the day, this whole draft class has a target on their back.” The crew also got blunt saying that these girls are not threatening the veterans because the attention that they are getting is not going anywhere, because it was never there.

Seems like this debate is not going to end anytime soon. However, it is also true that Caitlin Clark and the rest of the rookies have surely fulfilled everyone’s expectations. With the sky being their limit, it will be intriguing to see where this debate goes and who comes on top at the end.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.