Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have been linked since their college days, their clashes producing some of the most-watched games in NCAA women’s basketball history.
Reese‘s LSU Tigers claimed the 2023 national title over Clark‘s Iowa Hawkeyes, only for Clark to return the favor a year later when Iowa knocked LSU out in the 2024 Elite Eight.
Now as pros, they’ve become the faces of the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever, carrying their rivalry into the WNBA.
While both have been central to the league’s surge in popularity, Reese has been vocal about ensuring her role is not overshadowed.
Ice Cube reveals sponsor-driven decision between Clark and Reese
Despite Reese‘s influence, a recent statement from Ice Cube highlights the different ways the two stars are viewed behind the scenes.
Earlier this year, the BIG3 founder made headlines by offering Caitlin Clark $5 million to join his 3-on-3 league. When asked whether Angel Reese was in consideration for a similar offer, Cube explained the response he received from league backers.
“They didn’t tell us the same thing about Angel Reese,” Cube told TMZ Sports. “I don’t know if we can make that same offer.”
According to Cube, the league’s investors and sponsors were unanimous in their belief that Clark would have the largest impact on viewership and revenue. That assessment led to the record-breaking offer for the Fever star, while no proposal was ever extended to Reese.
Cube added that the window for Clark’s potential involvement in the BIG3 has likely closed now that her WNBA career is underway, but his comment drew attention to the broader business dynamics shaping women’s basketball.
For Reese, the statement reflects the uphill battle to cement her commercial value despite her cultural and on-court impact. For Clark, it reaffirms her status as the sport’s biggest draw in the eyes of sponsors and media executives.
Their rivalry, once defined by on-court matchups, now stretches into the realms of branding and business.
As both players continue to shape the WNBA’s future, the conversation around their influence has become a defining storyline of the league’s growth, and a reminder that the game is being played on more than one stage.
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