Angel Reese Faces BACKLASH After WNBA All-Star Stunt – She’s No Caitlin Clark!
The 2024 WNBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis was supposed to be a celebration—a high point for women’s basketball, with ticket prices soaring and fans flying in from across the country. The main draw? A much-hyped showdown between Indiana Fever rookie sensation Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese, whose on-court battles and off-court narratives have dominated the season’s headlines. But when Clark was sidelined by a groin injury just days before the event, everything changed—and so did the spotlight, landing squarely on Angel Reese in ways she might not have expected.
Angel Reese, never shy about seizing a moment, rolled out her new Reebok signature shoe campaign right in the heart of Indianapolis. The city was plastered with bold billboards, her “I’m in your city” slogan echoing across social media, and her team’s messaging was clear: this was Reese’s moment to take over. Yet, as Clark’s absence deflated the city’s energy and ticket prices plummeted nearly 50%, Reese’s aggressive marketing blitz suddenly felt awkward, even opportunistic. Fans who had planned trips, booked hotels, and bought tickets to see Clark were left disappointed, and many began to see Reese’s campaign as tone-deaf—an attempt to claim victory in a rivalry when the other side couldn’t even compete.
The backlash was swift. Social media lit up with criticism, with many calling out Reese for “taking shots” at Clark, who has never publicly responded with anything but professionalism. “Why can’t Angel just do her thing without dragging Caitlin into it?” one fan tweeted, echoing a sentiment that grew louder as the weekend went on. Others pointed out that while Reese is a talented player, her rise has often been fueled by attaching herself to Clark’s meteoric popularity—her podcast, interviews, and even shoe launch all referencing Clark at every turn. “Imagine rolling out your biggest marketing campaign in your rival’s hometown while she’s injured and can’t even defend her ground,” another user remarked. “That’s not competition—that’s opportunism.”
The numbers told the story. According to ticketing platforms, the get-in price for the All-Star game dropped from $121 to just $64 after news broke that Clark would be sitting out. Restaurants, hotels, and local businesses all felt the sting, as the anticipated crowds never fully materialized. The league’s carefully orchestrated celebration of women’s basketball had quickly become a stark reminder of how much of its newfound momentum depends on a single superstar. “Clark’s absence exposed just how much of the league’s recent growth has been tied directly to her star power,” wrote one columnist. “Without her, the energy disappears.”
While some praised Reese for her boldness and marketing savvy, many more questioned the timing and intent of her campaign. “Walk in your trap, take over your trap,” Reese posted on Instagram, using a popular catchphrase—but also fueling criticism that she was more interested in building her brand than uplifting the league as a whole. Critics noted that while other All-Star players focused on celebrating the game and supporting each other, Reese kept steering the conversation back to her rivalry with Clark—even though Clark wasn’t playing. “It feels like claiming victory in a battle your opponent can’t even fight,” one analyst observed.
The media, too, played a role in fanning the flames. Sports talk shows debated whether Reese’s actions were good for the league or simply self-serving. Some hosts argued that the so-called rivalry was “one-sided,” with Reese benefiting financially and professionally from keeping Clark’s name in her mouth, while Clark herself remained focused on her game and recovery. “Let’s be real,” said one commentator. “The only reason this is still a rivalry is because the other side won’t let it go. And it’s extremely beneficial for Angel Reese to keep it going.”
As the weekend wrapped up, the contrast between the two stars was sharper than ever. Clark, sidelined but still the face of the league’s growth, had nothing but well-wishes and gratitude for the fans. Reese, meanwhile, doubled down on her campaign, even as criticism mounted. “She’s never even won a pro game in Indiana,” some fans pointed out, questioning the legitimacy of her “takeover” narrative.
In the end, the WNBA All-Star weekend was less about the game itself and more about the narratives swirling around it. Angel Reese’s attempt to seize the spotlight in Clark’s absence may have backfired, at least in the eyes of many fans and commentators. The episode served as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in the world of sports marketing—and how, for now at least, Angel Reese is no Caitlin Clark. The league’s challenge moving forward will be to build a sustainable foundation that doesn’t rest on the shoulders of one player, no matter how bright her star may shine.
