The Caitlin Clark–Angel Reese feud has been one of the drivers behind the WNBA’s rise in popularity. While there is a stark difference in the way the two stars are perceived, it wasn’t made as blatantly obvious until Ice Cube’s recent reveal about their perceived marketability.
Ice Cube was recently asked whether he would extend a similar offer to Reese as he had with Clark, which was a $5 million deal to play in the league. The founder responded by saying:
“Yeah, she’s [Reese] a great player. The thing with Caitlin Clark, it was just to unlock millions of dollars for the league because of her stardom, is what our sponsors was telling us. They didn’t tell us that same thing about Angel Reese. So I don’t know if we can make that same offer.”
The individual recording Ice Cube then followed up by asking whether an adjusted amount could be offered. The rapper hesitated and replied:
“I don’t know if we can make that same offer, as it won’t have the same impact on the league. It ain’t personal.”
Ice Cube’s response not only showcases the contrast in how Clark and Reese are perceived but also highlights the commercial reality of modern professional sports, where being marketable is also an important factor.
What Clark has done for the WNBA is nothing short of miraculous in this regard. Although she hasn’t revolutionized the game, her sudden rise to stardom has drawn an incredible amount of interest in the league, single-handedly causing its surge in popularity.
To say that the Indiana Fever guard is the single most impactful WNBA star wouldn’t even be considered hyperbole at this stage. Clark was expected to miss some time earlier in the season due to injury. While she was sidelined, the WNBA’s ratings collapsed, dropping by 50%.
This much power and attention given to an individual hasn’t necessarily been received well by the rest of the league, as the guard is often subjected to harsh fouls and rough physical play during games.
In contrast, Angel Reese hasn’t necessarily had the same impact at the scale that her counterpart has. While the Chicago Sky forward is a passionate and talented athlete in her own right, much of the narrative has been skewed, some of it being a product of her actions.
In many ways, Clark’s popularity could be owed to Reese as well. In a rivalry that started in college and has only grown since joining the WNBA, their story lends itself to drawing more attention.
Without the ongoing narrative surrounding the two, the Fever guard may not have been in the spotlight as much. This, however, is also speculation, as the guard’s talents are truly generational.
Having established herself as one of the best players in the league in only her second season, Clark finds herself on track to become one of the greatest to grace the hardwood floors of the WNBA.
