“I’m pretty sure the only people that view this as a rivalry is all of you.” Caitlin Clark had this to say to the media while laughing at the question about the heated competition between her and Angel Reese. However, for at least two years now, continuing from the NCAA, it has always been about Reese vs Clark. Somehow even diminishing the fact that the two teams are going against each other. Certainly, giving the media all the rights to call it what it seems to be. But when the basketball world was not satiated with the Fever star’s response, the Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale came with the explanation. Only to find not everyone agrees with her.

One of the people who simply does not want to agree with the 2x WNBA All-Star Game MVP is Dave Portnoy. He recently tweeted, “To be fair Angel has taunted Caitlin, talked sh-t multiple times about Caitlin, did the lambada when she got cheap shotted. The media hasn’t created the rivalry. Angel’s obsession with Caitlin has.” This was in response to Yahoo Sports’ post with Ogunbowale’s perspective on the rivalry. He further commented, “And by the way I think its great for the sport. But lets not pretend its some made up media creation.”

We can also see why, as a media personality himself, Portnoy disagrees with Ogunbowale. Expanding more on his thoughts, let us take one by one just what he mentioned. As for the taunt, back in the 2023 NCAA Championship Game, Reese followed Caitlin Clark, showing her ring finger. She also made the infamous ‘You can’t see me’ gesture to the then-Hawkeye, attracting a response from Portnoy. This prompted Portnoy to call Reese a “classless piece of sh-t” on X.

Since then, we have seen the Sky rookie celebrate Chennedy Carter’s shoulder check on Caitlin Clark and mention how everyone watches women’s basketball because of her too. But now let us see why despite all the reasons to call it one, Arike Ogunbowale does not want to call it a rivalry.

The Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese smoke gets a response from the Dallas star

The first-overall pick this year has numerous narratives revolving around her. More often than not, they all gain clarifications from WNBA stars and media entities alike. Of course, all have different perspectives to continue this debate. Hence, Arike Ogunbowale too had to respond to one of them, the rivalry debate.

According to the veteran, “I do think the Angel-Caitlin thing is funny. They’re two totally different positions, and the media tries to make them be competitors. It’s really not a rivalry.” Of course, Ogunbowale was present on the floor in Phoenix as the crowd saw one of the most awaited passes. The dish from Caitlin Clark to Angel Reese turned into two points for the Team WNBA as they extended their lead over Team USA.

Then, Angel Reese complimented Caitlin Clark by mentioning how she is always ready when the 2x National Player of the Year has the ball because she would pass. In fact, the Chi-Town Barbie even manifested that the two play together on Team USA in the LA Summer Games. While we cannot say who is right in this discussion, what we can do is see who gets the better of the other.

Tonight, Caitlin Clark and Co. will fly to the Windy City for one last time this season. The Fever have done a great job clinching the season series over the Mercury already. With an upper hand over the Sky already, can they win another one tonight?