The heated rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has become the defining narrative of the WNBA’s historic surge in popularity, and sports host Joy Taylor has just added more fuel to the fire. In a viral commentary, Taylor asserted that the media and fans would not be talking about Caitlin Clark to the extent they are today if it weren’t for her now-infamous moment with Angel Reese during the 2023 NCAA Championship game. Taylor’s take, delivered on a podcast, has reopened a raw and complex discussion about the intersection of sports, race, and media, suggesting that the very rivalry fueling the WNBA’s rise is steeped in underlying issues of racism and misogyny.

The rivalry began with a single moment: a taunt by Angel Reese, following LSU’s championship victory over Iowa. Reese’s gesture, which mirrored one previously made by Clark, instantly went viral, sparking a passionate and polarized reaction from the public. While fans of Reese saw it as an unapologetic display of a “villain” persona she has since embraced, many of Clark’s supporters and some media outlets portrayed the moment as an act of disrespect toward their star. Taylor compared the Clark-Reese rivalry to the Magic Johnson and Larry. Bird rivalry back in the 1980s, while also pointing to “racism” and “misogyny” as firestarters to the virality of it.

As the two players entered the WNBA, the discourse intensified. Games between their teams have become must-watch television, drawing record-breaking viewership and unprecedented media attention to the league. But as the rivalry has deepened, so has the scrutiny of the racial dynamics at play. The WNBA, a league predominantly made up of Black and LGBTQ+ athletes, has found itself grappling with a public narrative that has often cast Clark, a white player, as a victim of “dirty play” and “hate,” while Reese, a Black player, is consistently labeled as a villain.

“Caitlin is not a victim,” Taylor said. “She is an incredibly great player. She is a huge career ahead of her. She was, in my opinion, one of the most impactful college basketball players, man or woman, that has ever touched the court. It’s not about comparing Angel Reese and Caitlyn Clark as players. It is what they represent, and the conversation that they generate.”

She added: “So when I use the Larry Bird-Magic Johnson comparison, it’s because their marketability saved the (NBA), and that is what Angel Reese and Caitlyn Clark are doing. … It’s the storylines behind them, it’s the polarization, it’s the animosity, it’s the conversation that they generate, the marketing dollars that they generate, the eyeballs that they generate. You cannot manufacture that. And it had a lot to do with racism. It had a lot to do with misogyny.”…

According to research and commentary from multiple sources, this framing is problematic. A study from Rice University and the University of Illinois Chicago pointed out that while both players have made similar gestures on the court, Reese received significantly more negative backlash. The WNBA itself has had to address fan behavior, with reports of racial abuse directed at players. This is the backdrop for Taylor’s commentary, which suggests that the “victim” narrative around Clark, and the villainization of Reese, are not just coincidences but are tied to deeper societal biases.

In Taylor’s view, the media and fans have created a “Caitlin vs. Angel” storyline that is less about basketball and more about a simplistic, often racialized, good-vs-evil drama. This has overshadowed the incredible talent of both players and the overall growth of the WNBA. While many might disagree with her assertion that Clark’s fame is entirely dependent on Reese, it’s difficult to deny that the viral moment and the subsequent media circus have played a crucial role in bringing new eyes to the sport. The real debate, it seems, is not about which player is better, but about how the public and the media have chosen to frame their rivalry, and what that says about the enduring biases that still exist in the world of sports. The conversation around this rivalry is not just about a game—it’s a mirror reflecting the broader issues of American bigotry and the challenges women’s sports still face on the path to mainstream recognition.