TMZ. with
Caitlin Clark It is Angel Reese They may not be the best of friends, but their careers will forever be linked to each other… that’s what it says Jemele Hillwhich sees initial comparisons with Johnson Magic It is Larry Bird!!
The Atlantic reporter joined Harvey It is Carlos on “TMZ Live” on Tuesday to discuss the current situation between CC and AR… and she believes both stars need each other – comparing it to the Lakers and Celtics legends’ on-court battles during their respective playing days.
“Larry Bird and Magic Johnson had the most-watched men’s national championship game in history,” Hill said. “They had a rivalry in that game and they brought all of that with them to the NBA.”
If you remember, Reese teased Clark with John CenaThe famous “You Can’t See Me” gesture during the 2022 women’s national championship game… the same gesture Clark used in the Elite Eight and Final Four that same year.
ANGEL REESE BEATS CAITLIN CLARK WITH “YOU CAN’T SEE ME” 👀 pic.twitter.com/Zj3mqIzkk9
-ESPN (@espn) April 2, 2023
@ESPN
Hill said that’s when the conversation around them completely changed.
“Caitlin Clark was certainly gaining popularity before she and Angel Reese crossed paths,” she said. “But the moment Angel Reese did (the you can’t see me gesture), this rivalry and the conversation around them went to a completely different level.”
When asked why it seems like people are focusing more on CC than Reese… Hill chalked it up to who Clark is off the court with.
“Not only is she good, not only does she break records, but she also has an electric style of play,” Hill said. “But she’s white, straight, and from Iowa. So you’ve got an underdog story there. You’ve got someone (who is) white (and) who matters in this country. It mattered to Larry Bird too! People who hadn’t found themselves dominating on a level of that specific place.”
Hill also mentioned positional discrimination as a reason people focus more on Clark than Reese… citing how Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – a legendary center – tends to be left out of the GOAT discussion due to the position he played.
Chicago sky
For many people, Reese is being cast as the villain in Clark’s hero story… and while Chi Barbie said she’s happy to play the role, Hill reminded us of the hooper’s last college press conference… when she exhibited a different mindset about it all.
“She talked about the weight and the price of having to face death threats,” Hill said. “Having to be called racist names over the past two years simply because of her competitive rivalry with Caitlin Clark.”
Ultimately, the rivalry has just begun… and will resume on June 16th when the two stars’ teams face off again.