It’s been a while since the Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark narrative has commanded the spotlight. On Friday, WNBA analyst Linda Cohn reminded fans of this plotline.
In the latest edition of “The Linda Cohn Show,” Cohn acknowledged Reese’s rising prominence and said some fans were likening her popularity to Clark’s.
“Angel Reese, as we all know, has become one of the biggest names in the WNBA. She’s helping bring attention to the Atlanta Dream…Now, Atlanta has other outstanding players. She hasn’t done this alone. Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, if she’s healthy enough to play…Here’s where I think the conversation is getting ahead of itself, and it’s worth repeating. People are already trying to compare the Angel Reese effect with the Caitlin Clark effect.”
According to Cohn, a genuine comparison can only be made by looking at the numbers drawn by the two WNBA All-Stars.
“Angel Reese absolutely has her own following and her own impact on the sport. But if we’re gonna make comparisons about who’s driving ticket sales, let’s compare actual ticket sales. Let’s compare attendance. Let’s compare consistent demand over an entire season, not just a couple of Finals games.”
Clark has downplayed suggestions of animosity toward Reese. She told off a reporter at the FIBA World Cup for asking whether she and Reese are “friends now.”
“I’m Not Going to Shy Away From This Moment”: Angel Reese Opens Up on Her Mindset Heading Into WNBA Finals
From the looks of it, Angel Reese isn’t focused on a popularity contest, either.
On Friday’s edition of “NBA Today,” ESPN’s Kendra Andrews shared some quotes from her conversation with the Dream star ahead of her first-ever WNBA Finals appearance.
“She said, ‘To be a good player in the playoffs, you have to just elevate. You have to be someone who rises. The best players are the ones who are the greats, the ones that get the most respect, the ones that deliver on this level. I’m not going to shy away from this moment.'”
Reese is known to elevate her game in crunch situations, helping the LSU Tigers win the 2023 national championship. Now, her mettle will be tested again as the Dream take on the Golden State Valkyries in the WNBA Finals.
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