The ‘Why Not Angel?’ debate has resurfaced. Long before the WNBA season even began, Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark were already making headlines. But when news broke in April that Ice Cube’s Big3 league offered Clark a jaw-dropping $5 million for just eight games, it ignited a firestorm of debate. Months later, Ice Cube has finally responded to the criticism.

The hip-hop legend and Big3 founder explained the decision was purely business. “Well, like I said, it was a business decision,” he shared. “You know, I’d rather watch Angel play, but you know it wasn’t unlocking those dollars to bring her into the league like it would have with Caitlin, and that’s just how the sponsors were rolling. That’s just the reality of the business.”

Indeed, the numbers surrounding CC make it clear why Ice Cube bet big on her. Her record-breaking March Madness run with Iowa drew a peak of nearly 25 million viewers during the NCAA championship game, rivaling some of the biggest non-NFL broadcasts. 

However, her impact didn’t stop there. Joining the Indiana Fever, Clark took the team’s viewership from virtually non-existent to must-watch TV. The leagues averaged 657,000 viewers for the historic 2024 regular season. 

Even 22 games reached 1 million viewers (the Fever star played in 19 of them) across the league’s Nielsen-rated media partners. While Angel Reese has been nothing short of phenomenal, Clark took it to the next level when it comes to gathering media attention. 

Both athletes are generational talents, but Clark’s ability to pull massive audiences undoubtedly swayed Big3’s business-first approach. Still, at that time, even the offer as a whole didn’t sit well with many, and it quickly became a hot topic on sports shows and social media.

Kenyon Martin and Ice Cube’s son weigh In

On Gil’s Arena, former NBA star Kenyon Martin wasn’t shy about expressing his concerns. He questioned why Angel Reese, who has her own massive following and immense talent, wasn’t offered the same opportunity. “You got the young lady [at] LSU who’s pretty popular herself in her own right,” Martin said. “Why not offer it to her?”

Martin went on to critique the offer itself, suggesting that Clark’s skills might not translate well to a 3-on-3 format. “I feel like it’s a waste of her talent,” he added, also wondering why other WNBA stars like Lexie Brown or even Candace Parker weren’t approached instead. Meanwhile, Lexie Brown chimed in with her thoughts, quite similar to Martin’s sentiment. She questioned why Ice Cube didn’t make similar offers to established WNBA players who have already proven their worth in professional basketball.

In no time, Ice Cube’s son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., jumped into the fray to defend his father’s decision. “You don’t know who else was offered anything,” Jackson wrote on X. He emphasized that people were unaware of the conversations that may have taken place with other players. 

However, as his father recently highlighted during the conversation in ‘The Morning Hustle,‘ the Iowa alumna is currently the most talked-about name in women’s basketball, suggesting that the ‘leaked story’ gained traction because of her immense popularity. But it’s all an old story now. After a successful rookie season, the 2024 draftees aren’t short on opportunities.

Reports surfaced recently that another 3-on-3 league, Unrivaled, extended Clark a million-dollar offer. However, it appears she is declining the tempting payday again. Angel Reese, on the other hand, is all in and has announced her plans to participate. So, for now, regardless of the comparison, both young stars remain at the forefront and are the future of W.