The WNBA’s rise is credited to the class of the 2024 draft led by Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Both names rose to be among the biggest in the league. They had stellar college careers and were at the top of every franchise’s wish list ahead of the draft night.
Well-known TV host Joy Taylor gave her views on the rivalry that sparked the popularity of both players. She even made stern comments about her views on both players. Clark and Reese’s rivalry continues to go deeper, and fans have mixed reactions about both players and their performances.
Joy Taylor Gives Unfiltered Opinion On Caitlin Clark And Angel Reese Rivalry
Appearing on the “Hot Mics with Billy Bush” podcast, the 38-year-old star commentator discussed many topics, including her future and plans with the Fox network. In one segment, she gave her views on the rivalry between two WNBA superstars, CC and AR5.
While they are two of the most followed women’s basketball players, Taylor claimed that the famous’ ring moment’ in the 2023 NCAA finals made them popular and benefited the WNBA as well.
“That moment in the National Championship created this vortex of a situation that exploded across multiple platforms well outside of sports. It created a household name for Caitlin Clark which she was not before that happened and certainly Angel wasn’t either but Caitlin wasn’t either,” Taylor said on the podcast. (Via Instagram/hotmicswithbillybush)
Angel Reese showed a ring finger to Caitlin Clark after LSU nearly confirmed their title in the 2023 NCAA finals. The forward was the leading rebounder and scorer for the side. The Iowa star put her side in the finals for the first time in its history.
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The moment certainly went viral. It’s still being discussed while these two superstars face each other at the pro level. The 2024 top pick went on to make history as the highest scorer in NCAA competition and made it to the back-to-back finals. The 2023 NCCAA championship and a superb performance with LSU remain the highlights of Reese’s career.
Joy Taylor Compares Caitlin Clark To Larry Bird
The scenario is not different from the NBA. The male counterpart of the WNBA also benefited from two rookies. They revitalized the league with their college rivalry and fame. Drawing a parallel between the two leagues, the commentator compared Magic Johnson to Angel Reese and Larry Bird to the Fever guard.
“It was very much the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird moment for the WNBA, and that has a lot to do with them being great players. Angel Reese was a spectacular player in college, and she is a good player now. Is she of the Magic Johnson level? No, but Caitlin Clark is not at Larry Bird’s level either,” She added in her explanation on the podcast.
Ironically, Magic Bird was a guard, and the Fever phenom plays a bit like him with her passing and shooting abilities. Similarly, the Chicago Sky forward would try to emulate the Celtics’ legend, who played at a similar position. Many analysts have a similar comparison between the two WNBA stars.
While it’s Taylor’s personal opinion and analysis, many fans opposed her conclusion. Moreover, the Indiana Fever team is currently dominating the Chicago Sky, with their upcoming fixture scheduled on August 9.