Caitlin Clark‘s rivalry with Angel Reese remains red hot as they play in the WNBA. Still, FOX Sports host Joy Taylor briefly escalated the narrative, saying that Clark wouldn’t get the massive attention she has today weren’t for her infamous confrontation with Reese in the 2023 National Championships.
On Monday’s “Joe Budden Podcast,” Taylor shared her stance on the importance of the Clark-Reese storyline and the need for someone to take the role of the “hero” and the “villain” in the narrative. The commentator then said how it “upset white men” to watch a “strong, winning, unapologetic” Reese, then fiercely concluded it by saying:
“And it’s now spun to this whole thing where like Caitlin’s better than Angel and blah blah blah,” Taylor said. “I just said we would not be talking about Caitlin Clark the way we do if it wasn’t for that moment with Angel Reese. And I will die on this hill.”
Joy says we wouldn’t be talking about Caitlyn Clark if it wasn’t for Angel Reese pic.twitter.com/KfaK78j5N5
— BodieFPS (@BodieFPS) June 23, 2025
Everyone in the podcast had their qualms about Taylor’s take, with the co-hosts telling her to “chill out. Soon, Caitlin Clark fan Dave Portnoy also responded. On his X/Twitter, the Barstool Sports founder reversed the FS1 host’s stance, saying fewer basketball fans knew Reese than Clark.
“The dumbest, most ridiculous rant of all time. Nobody outside hardcore WNBA fans and LSU fans would know who Angel was it weren’t for her riding Caitlin’s coattails. It’s made her a fortune, so kudos to her, but this is the dumbest take I’ve ever heard,” Portnoy tweeted.
The dumbest most ridiculous rant of all time. Nobody outside hardcore WNBA fans and LSU fans would know who Angel was it weren’t for her riding Caitlin’s coattails. It’s made her a fortune so kudos to her but this is the dumbest take I’ve ever heard. pic.twitter.com/2LjJOqOs34
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) June 23, 2025
The mentioned 2023 confrontation referred to when Reese, as the LSU Tigers were on their way to winning the National Trophy, gestured John Cena’s “You can’t see me” gesture on Caitlin Clark, then Iowa Hawkeye. Even at the WNBA, they had their share of physicalities, with their brief brawl on May 17’s season opener garnering tons of attention.
Fans and critics will see another Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese matchup on July 28. The Fever leads their games against the Sky so far, 2-0.
Dave Portnoy is also critical of Caitlin Clark
Despite being a huge supporter of Caitlin Clark, Dave Portnoy also had his share of criticizing the Indiana Fever star. During Thursday’s loss against the Golden State Valkyries, Portnoy called out Clark, who only scored 11 points without shooting threes, for being “terrible” in the match.
“Caitlin had terrible game. Happy for Kate Martin though,” Portnoy tweeted. “Also Golden State is 1st crowd I’ve seen that was a true home crowd that was there for their team and not for Caitlin. Good for WNBA.”
Seeking to recover from a two-game losing skid, Caitlin Clark and the Fever will face the Seattle Storm on Tuesday.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
