Much of that tension has crystallized around two young stars: Caitlin Clark, the Iowa phenom turned Indiana Fever rookie sensation, and Angel Reese, the unapologetic LSU champion now lighting up the Chicago Sky. Every play they make, every comment they share, and every foul exchanged between them is instantly dissected, replayed, and argued about online. But why? Why do these two competitors—both supremely talented, both fierce and focused—invite such relentless debate?

To understand that, we need to step back and unpack the narratives that have surrounded them since college. Because what’s happening now isn’t just about basketball. It’s about race, gender, media framing, and how we, as a society, choose our heroes and villains.

A Rivalry the Media Was Desperate to Create

When Clark and Reese clashed in the 2023 NCAA Championship, it was a television dream come true: a white superstar with limitless shooting range versus a Black powerhouse who dominated the paint and talked just as much game. The postgame hand gestures and pointed celebrations ignited the internet. “Classless” was the word hurled at Reese. “Fiery competitor” was used for Clark. And just like that, the sports world had crowned its narrative—Reese, the villain. Clark, the golden girl.

But the truth is far more complex. These are two young women at the top of their game, competing in a league where physicality and passion have always been part of the fabric. So why are we so uncomfortable letting them be what they are—athletes?

Jemele Hill recently addressed this imbalance on her podcast, Spolitics, calling out the media’s obsession with personalizing what should be professional competition. “RGIII’s opinion wasn’t a sports take,” she said, referring to Robert Griffin III’s viral suggestion that Reese “hates” Clark. “His observation isn’t about basketball. It’s about projecting something deeper—something personal and unverified.”