When WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark was overlooked for Team USA, her supporters, and many analysts were puzzled, especially given her electrifying debut season with the Indiana Fever. Clark, who leads the league in assists, wasted no time in proving her worth as WNBA action resumed post-Olympics. In a thrilling game against the Phoenix Mercury, she delivered a standout performance that not only strengthened her case in the ROTY race against rival Angel Reese but also caught the attention of notable figure Dave Portnoy, who has given her a tag which puts the rookie on a high pedestal.

The 22-year-old guard put on a show against the Mercury, dropping an impressive 29 points and dishing out 10 assists. Dave Portnoy couldn’t help but share Caitlin Clark’s highlights on his X account, tweeting,

“We are witnessing the arrival of the greatest female hooper of all time right before our eyes.”

Well, Clark’s performance was more remarkable as she succeeded in scoring from beyond the arc on four occasions. Her contributions helped the Fever to outclass the opponents by 98-89. She made impressive passes that led to valuable points for her team which sits seventh in the Eastern Conference standings.

What’s intriguing about Portnoy’s recent praise for Clark is the stark contrast to his comments for her rival just a few months ago. When the Fever went up against the Chicago Sky, Portnoy shared a video of Angel Reese and had a harsh label for her, calling the Sky rookie a clown.

“I didn’t even see this. Angel Reese is such a clown. Yet she loses to Caitlin yet again…” he tweeted back in June.

Let’s discuss this rivalry and how these rookies have performed in their debut season.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s race to ROTY and the rivalry

Back when Louisiana State University claimed the NCAA championship by defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes, Angel Reese made headlines by taunting Caitlin Clark. She mimicked John Cena’s famous

“you can’t see me” gesture before pointing to her ring finger, a clear symbol of her championship triumph.

From that moment on, it was obvious that this duo would spark an exciting rivalry in their rookie season. Both have been vital to their teams, with Clark averaging 17.6 points per game while leading the league in assists with 8.3 per game.

On the other hand, Angel Reese has averaged 13.4 points per game along with 12 rebounds. It will be interesting to see how Reese will perform as Portnoy has already declared her rival the greatest hooper of all time. As the ROTY race heats up, the rivalry between Clark and Reese is one to watch, with both rookies delivering standout performances that have kept fans and critics on edge.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show”. Our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.