As soon as the WNBA schedules are out, there are a few games which fans always look forward to. The Indiana Fever vs Chicago Sky is one such game, with two of the biggest stars, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese playing against each other. The epic college rivalry became huge at the pro level also.
Talking about the same on the ‘All the Smoke’ podcast, Mitchell Obama highlights one important ‘non-basketball’ factor that played a crucial role.
Mitchell Obama Calls Social Media A Major Factor In Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese Rivalry
While the former First Lady was on the podcast, she talked about multiple topics related to sports. She supported the WNBA players’ quest for a pay raise and maintained a stand on finding quicker ways to give women in sports more power.
Matt Barnes added that the WNBA’s rise is because of new storylines in the league, led by the rivalry between Caitlin Clark and AR5. Obama also weighed in on the topic, but she didn’t take anyone’s side and instead highlighted the role of social media in the story.
“I think the tough thing is the social media element to it, but that’s true across the board. It just takes a normal occurrence, these young kids today what they have to go through and be able to withstand, because social media is such a huge part of their world, but now the hate is in your room on your phone with you all the time, and you can’t tell these kids to turn it off, because they’re making their living that way,” Mitchell Obama said on the Podcast (Via YT/AllThesmoke)
Both players have massive fan followings, and their constant engagement on social media not only kept the rivalry alive but expanded it in various forms. It had a ripple effect, following new fans joining in with their views.
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As the hosts tried to compare the rivalry with the NBA’s own Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird rivalry, Obama pointed out that social media was not present at the time, but it now has more power. Many analysts also shared their views on the CC and AR rivalry, but here is what the players see in the matchup.
Caitlin Clark And Angel Reese Downplay Rivalry Angle
Even though fans tried to put two stars against each other on multiple fronts, a few analysts supported Reese or Clark with their views. But the players themselves tried to keep a distance from the ‘personal rivalry’ angle. They even highlighted that they both are competitive, and it’s just in on-court interactions.
In the 2024 All-Star game, former Iowa guard and LUS forward were teammates, and fans even cheered every moment when they shared the space and possession. As of now, both stars are out with injuries.