When Roger Clemens and Mike Piazza faced off in the very first innings, the intensity hit an all-time high in Game 2 of the 2000 Subway Series. Just a few pitches in, Piazza fouled off a 1-2 inside pitch that jammed him, shattering his bat. The barrel of the bat flew toward the mound, and in a moment that stunned everyone, Clemens picked it up and hurled it down the first base line—right in Piazza’s direction. What followed was pure chaos. Benches cleared, tempers flared, and the umpires had to step in to restore order. After the game, Clemens claimed he “had no idea Piazza was running on the foul ball.” But that explanation didn’t stop it from becoming one of the most talked-about moments in interleague play history. It’s 2025 now, and honestly, nothing has changed much. Just ask Breanna Stewart what she encountered at Yankee Stadium!

The 6’4″ WNBA superstar came fully prepared, knowing she had the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for Sunday’s Subway Series rubber match. With the same height and frame as Yankees starter Max Fried, she used a short leg kick and delivered the ball to J.C. Escarra. And just like that, the game was underway. And it was clear that no matter how the teams are doing in the standings, this series always brings out the best in the players. The energy feels like a playoff game, and the fans bring that same fire, packing out Yankee Stadium and Citi Field year after year. It’s been that way ever since the Mets took the very first matchup 6-0 behind Dave Mlicki back in 1997.

And Stewart, a North Syracuse native who grew up watching the rivalry, knows it best:

“A big deal for our entire family,” she said of the Subway Series. However, this time, it was bigger than ever before, thanks to Juan Soto, a standout player, transitioning from the Yankees to the Mets. “It’s Yankees or bust. I feel like I signed to the Yankees, honestly,” Stewart added.

Soto returned to the Bronx for the first time since inking a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets. And what else could you expect? Fan sentiments were off the charts. The Yankees faithful booed Soto throughout the weekend. While his return certainly agitated them, it’s not just about him. The rivalry between the two franchises has always been intense—Soto’s presence only reignited it.

And Stewart—being both a Yankees fan and a WNBA champion—understands rivalries better than most. When asked about the New York Liberty’s biggest rival, she didn’t hesitate to name A’ja Wilson’s squad. “I would say Vegas,” she stated.

No doubt, she couldn’t have picked anyone else. The battle between the Aces and the Liberty goes back to the 2023 WNBA Finals, when Las Vegas knocked Stewart and her team out in a 3–1 series. But the Liberty bounced back, eliminating the Aces in the second round of the playoffs the following year. And after raising the franchise’s first-ever banner to the Barclays Center rafters, the Liberty took the lead in the narrative. “It’s like the way that we had the game last night—just because us and Vegas, we have a history. We have the drama. We have the storylines. We have the players going head-to-head.”

 

Of course, the Liberty and Aces still have a long way to go to match the legacy of the Subway Series—after all, that heated summer baseball tradition began in 1997, the same year the WNBA tipped off with its first-ever game.

But for Stewart, it’s not about longevity. It’s about the common ground both rivalries share: healthy competition. “I think a healthy rivalry is similar to what you saw last night. Our fans are booing Vegas, and when we go to Vegas, we’re going to get booed. And it’s a similar situation to what you’re going to see here today… That’s what sports is all about—having passionate fans behind you, like we do at Liberty games, like they do here for the Yankees,” she added.

And she’s absolutely right. Healthy rivalry is something every athlete craves—and there’s a reason behind that. According to studies, athletes involved in strong rivalries dedicate approximately 30% more effort to their training routines. This not only boosts motivation but also directly enhances performance during competitions.

Sounds familiar?

Caitlin Clark Follows the Same Approach to Encounter Angel Reese and Co.

If you were to name rivals, most of you would say Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese without any hesitation. And there’s a reason behind that. Since college, both basketball icons have kept fans on the edge of their seats with their gameplay. Even transitioning to the pros made no difference — in fact, the rivalry only grew more intense.

One is a game-changer, holding over 19 records and leading the league in assists. The other is the rebounding queen, topping the league with her 13.1 rebounds per game. Yet, both remain unsatisfied. Why? Because each wants an edge over the other.

The regular season might have officially kicked off last Saturday for the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, but for these two, it started long before that. While Reese focused on improving her layups at Unrivaled, Clark dedicated more time to lifting weights. Both clearly put extra effort into their training routines — and it showed!

When the two stepped on the court for the season opener, the energy was louder than ever. Everything was moving smoothly — until 4:38 remained in the third quarter. After Reese grabbed an offensive rebound, Clark slapped the Sky superstar across the arm to knock the ball away. In the next moment, Reese was on the floor. As expected, Chi-Town Barbie jumped up and started towards Clark to confront her, but Aliyah Boston stepped in as a savior, jumping between the two players.

The result? A Flagrant 1 on Clark and double technicals for Boston and Reese. But if you ask the former Iowa Hawkeyes star, there was “nothing malicious” about the foul. “It’s just a good take foul,” Clark explained. “You know, either Angel gets a wide-open two points, or we send them to the free-throw line.” Meanwhile, Reese called it “basketball play”. 

Just the way two archrivals speak — and play. But the fans? They were just as involved. When Reese missed the first of her two free throws, the cheers were louder than ever. Though she made the second and followed it with a layup. Anyway, this is the kind of rivalry that has always existed across sports, whether it’s basketball or baseball. Just as Stewie shared. Do you agree?