The plot thickens within the rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.
Two of the WNBA’s hottest commodities, while you point out one among them, you nearly definitely point out the opposite.
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Intertwined as two of the largest stars popping out of the 2023 draft class, many are fast to match their respective video games, regardless of Clark being a deep-range capturing menace guard, and Reese being a double-double service provider within the frontcourt.
Final season the race for the Rookie of the 12 months award seemingly went all the way down to the wire, although when the voting outcomes had been revealed, Clark was one vote away from being unanimously awarded.
Each have been named back-to-back All-Stars via their first two years within the league, albeit Clark was named as a starter and one among two captains after receiving essentially the most fan votes in WNBA historical past, whereas Reese was named as a reserve.
Of late, although, with Clark having been sidelined for the final 5 video games with harm, Reese has firmly been within the heart of the highlight.
Having damaged WNBA document after WNBA document, Reese now finds herself on a six-game streak of recording 15-plus rebounds, which has seen her market the ‘Mebounds’ tag .
In these final six outings the Chicago Sky star has averaged 17.8 factors, 17.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists, but the Sky have gained simply two of these video games.
Nonetheless, with the tear that she is on, there was no higher time to fireplace a double blow to her former faculty rival.
On Wednesday, the ‘Bayou Barbie’ lastly unveiled her first signature shoe with Reebok known as the ‘Angel Reese 1.’
In a colorway that has been titled ‘Diamond Mud’, the Baltimore, Maryland native pays homage to her “culture-driving vitality and elegance whereas being grounded in revolutionary efficiency basketball design.”
With this launch – date to be confirmed – the 23-year-old turns into simply the second WNBA participant to have a signature shoe with Reebok after Rebecca Lobo in 1997.
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It was solely in June when Nike introduced the discharge of an Indiana Fever-inspired colorway of the Nike Kobe 5 Protro PE for Clark.
A restricted run of simply 13,000 pairs on SNKRS, they reportedly bought out in below a minute.
Although Clark can also be rumored to have a signature sneaker launch within the works written someplace in her multi-year contract value $20-plus million, Nike have considerably dropped the ball by having not launched it but.
However in a double whammy, Reese additionally debuted her signature sneaker on the quilt of NBA 2K26, with 2K asserting – additionally on Wednesday -the Sky star as the quilt athlete for the WNBA Version of their flagship online game.
Reese took to social media platform X to answer the large reveal.
She stated: “After all we do every little thing BIG. Why not debut my signature shoe on the quilt of NBA2K ?!?!”
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Reese turns into the most recent WNBA cowl star, taking up from reigning league MVP A’ja Wilson.
On being named cowl star, Reese stated: “Being on the quilt of NBA 2K26 and debuting my first-ever signature shoe with Reebok on that cowl, the Angel Reese 1, is greater than a milestone—it’s an announcement.
“It’s about illustration and exhibiting younger ladies they are often assured, daring, and take up area unapologetically.
“To be cemented in NBA 2K historical past is a particular honour that displays not solely my journey, but additionally all of the veteran WNBA gamers who’ve paved the way in which earlier than me and the rising impression of the league as a complete.
“I’m proud to be a part of a sport that continues to raise girls’s basketball and may’t look forward to followers to see how NBA 2K26 brings our sport to life like by no means earlier than.”
While many had been fast at hand Reese her – deserved – plaudits, others voiced their confusion and frustration over 2K’s selection, believing Clark ought to have been the quilt athlete as a substitute.
American media character Jon Root took to X voice his opinion on Reese being named the quilt athlete and stated: “I simply can’t perceive why they wouldn’t put essentially the most impactful, transcendent and common girls’s basketball participant of all time, Caitlin Clark on the quilt… It’s baffling how dangerous this advertising and marketing transfer is.”
“Think about not having Caitlin Clark as the quilt athlete regardless of her being the face of the WNBA,” one other fan stated.
One other fan echoed an identical sentiment: “Caitlin Clark ought to have been on the quilt of the WNBA version, not Angel Reese. She is just not the face of the WNBA. Caitlin Clark is the one purpose why I watch the WNBA.”
However within the midst of Clark followers taking to the keyboard to slander Reese and her achievements, there was a plethora of help aimed her method.
“AR legit breaking information annually. Love the hustle. Hyped to see the evolution,” one fan stated.
One other stated: “Angel Reese is simply higher at life than most individuals, as a result of what do you imply you simply debuted your signature shoe on the quilt of 2K…
“Want I remind y’all, she introduced that she declared for the draft in VOGUE! She’s insane.”
Having already recorded 14 double-doubles via 18 video games thus far within the 2025 season, Reese might but surpass the document for many in a season, chasing 28 that was set by six-time All-Star Alyssa Thomas in 2023.
What an ‘insane’ feat that will be.