Lisa Leslie Hails Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese for Igniting a New Era in the WNBA

The rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, once the talk of college basketball, is now fueling a revolution in the WNBA—and league legend Lisa Leslie is here for it.

Clark, the electrifying guard who once dazzled fans at Iowa, and Reese, the powerhouse forward who propelled LSU to a national championship, have been intertwined since their unforgettable showdown in the 2023 NCAA title game. Reese’s iconic “you can’t see me” gesture toward Clark became an instant classic, setting the stage for a rivalry that would capture the nation’s attention.

Fast forward to today, both stars are making waves in the pros—Clark lighting up the scoreboard for the Indiana Fever, and Reese dominating the paint for the Chicago Sky. Their first WNBA face-off this season shattered records, drawing 2.7 million viewers—the most-watched game in league history on ESPN platforms.

WNBA icon Lisa Leslie recently weighed in on their impact, describing Clark and Reese as the catalysts behind an unprecedented surge in women’s basketball popularity.
“When you look at what happened with Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark in college, you know it was like the explosion that we needed,” Leslie said on Locked On Women’s Basketball. “We’ve been playing this style and grace of basketball for so many years, but there’s some X-factors here… Caitlin and Angel, I think, just took it to another level.”

The numbers back her up. In her rookie season, Clark averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game—earning Rookie of the Year honors and a starting spot in the WNBA All-Star Game. Reese, meanwhile, posted a staggering 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, leading the entire league in rebounding and establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with.

Now, as both stars embark on their sophomore seasons, they’re not just competing—they’re transforming the WNBA, drawing new fans and inspiring the next generation of athletes. With Clark and Reese at the forefront, women’s basketball has never looked brighter.