The rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark is well-documented. Both want to win games, and there is always a fiction when they face each other. The competitive nature of the game and players make it even entertaining for the fans. Some even compared the rivalry to their NBA counterpart – Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
The comparisons might look bold considering the careers and impact those former NBA stars had. But the same argument was put forward by a WNBA veteran making her views clear about women’s sport.
WNBA Vet Reflects On Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese Rivalry
The Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky chose their star players from the 2024 WNBA draft. While Caitlin was already seen as the top pick, owned by the Fever, it was interesting to watch where the LSU forward would land in the league. With Sky selecting Reese, the pair stayed in the Eastern Conference. The college rivalry got a new dimension in the pro league.
While the friction got different storylines and angles in the pro league, it even drew comparison with the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. While on “All Facts No Brakes with Keyshawn Johnson.” show, Cheryl Miller put her idea behind this comparison.
“Well, the reason I do it is, and just because I’m old school, you had Magic and Larry, who competed in college, but it has championships. So, Magic won. Larry didn’t. It’s kind of like the same thing, a little, with Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. But the difference is, with the men, it’s a rivalry, and it’s great theater,” she said(Via X/AllFactsPod).
Truly, both players are breaking records since their rookie season. Reese made it into the top-10 rebounder in the Sky history in only her second season. The forward is leading the line with top performances and recently won player of the week award.
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CC is also making triple-double records in the league. She won Rookie of the Year award, beating Reese in a tight race. The players are putting on a show for the fans and its also nothing less than a ‘pure cinema’.
"You had Magic [Johnson] and Larry [Bird] who competed… It's kind of like the same thing, a little with Angel Resse and Caitlin Clark… The narrative is always different with women. We are either petty, jealous, or envious."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 3, 2025
— Cheryl Miller 👀pic.twitter.com/bqoY6h6WJ0
She added that the narrative for the women is different from the media, and it frustrates her. She wants coverage of the players’ performances and the game. Well, Reese and Clark are slowly changing the narrative of women’s basketball for sure.
Striking Similarities Between Reese-Clark Rivalry To Johnson-Bird Rivalry
Many analysts slammed the comparisons, saying that the players are yet to reach the level of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Yet there are a few striking similarities between the two rivalries in discussion. Caitlin Clark is an elite guard just like Magic Johnson, while Angel Reese plays at the forward position just like Larry Bird. CC was selected as the top overall pick in the draft – like the Laker great while AR5 was selected in first round (seventh overall) just like the Celtics legend (sixth overall).
Both players are key figures in their team’s roster and are seen as the face of their respective franchises, right from their rookie season. Both rivalries started from their college days, which translated well into the pro league also. The competitive nature of all four players in discussion is undeniable making the game more enjoyable and fiercer.
Moreover, the Johnson-Bird rivalry revived the NBA, bringing in more eyeballs to the league. The 80s NBA was a turning point for the NBA as the league began its ascent after years of half-filled arenas. With more and more fans coming in, choosing their favorite teams and players, the NBA started flourishing. A similar atmosphere is replicated in the WNBA and the Reese-Clark rivalry had a similar effect on the league. WNBA announcing new franchises, amid all the drama, highlights the great future for the league. It also highlights the positive impact of the young players in the league.