Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese caused a media frenzy after their infamous “you can’t see me” exchange in the 2023 NCAA championship game. There was a fierce debate over their perceived rivalry and it only intensified once they became the hottest prospects in the WNBA's rookie class.
The media’s fixation on their so-called rivalry has been fueled by the same gender and racial bias that has haunted women’s sports for generations. And now that Clark and Reese have brought thousands of new fans to the sport, is it safe to say that this storyline is what the WNBA needed? Or has it invited toxicity into a space that has always prided itself on its inclusivity and sisterhood?
In this groundbreaking series, Cari Champion searches for answers from those who know Clark and Reese best – from the coaches who helped shape their game, to the players and journalists who have witnessed their meteoric rise first-hand. Champion traces the incredible parallel paths of not just these two historic talents, but the WNBA itself, and sets the stage for the collision course that has brought us to this very moment. The Making of a Rivalry: Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese is not just about two of the brightest flames the sport has ever seen, but it also asks an essential question – in a time of such divisiveness, is it possible to let greatness unite us?
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Episode Transcript
I'm Carrie Champion, and this is season four of Naked Sports,
where we live at the intersection of sports and culture.
Up first, I explore the making of a Rivalry Caitlyn
Clark Versus Angel Reese.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I know I'll put out of history. People are talking
about women's basketball is just because of one single game.
Every great player needs a foil.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
And hear them wise, I just come here to play basketball.
Ray single that and that's what I focused on.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
From college to the pros, Clark and Reeves have changed
the way we consume women's sports.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
Angel Reese is a joy to watch.
Speaker 5 (00:31):
She is braggadocious, she is unapologetically black.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
I love her.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
What exactly ignited this fire? Why has it been so
good for the game? And can the fanfare surrounding these
two supernovas be sustained?
Speaker 6 (00:45):
This game is only going to get better because the
talent is getting better.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Listen to Naked Sports The Making of a Rivalry Caitlin
Clark Versus Angel Reese starting September ninth on the Black
Effect Podcast Network. iHeartRadio, app, Apple podcast, or wherever you
get your podcasts.
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