Did Caitlin Clark Make Angel Reese Quit?

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In a twist that has sent shockwaves through the basketball community, Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky has recently announced her departure from the remainder of the WNBA season due to a reported wrist injury. While injuries are an unfortunate and all-too-common reality for athletes, some basketball fans have begun to question whether Reese’s exit was truly due to injury or if other factors, particularly her rivalry with Caitlin Clark, played a significant role.

A Rivalry Years in the Making

The history between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark has been heated, stretching back to their college basketball days. From on-court clashes to moments of subtle drama, fans have closely followed their competitive dynamic as they transitioned into the WNBA. Though Reese publicly downplays any animosity, attributing the tension to overzealous fans, the numbers—and recent events—suggest a more complicated story.

The Rookie of the Year Race

One of Reese’s biggest goals entering this WNBA season was to compete for Rookie of the Year honors, a prestigious title that would have cemented her early legacy in the league. However, Caitlin Clark has been nothing short of a phenom, outperforming Reese in nearly every statistical category except for rebounds. ESPN even faced backlash after prematurely suggesting Reese was leading the Rookie of the Year race over Clark, despite the latter’s clear dominance in scoring, assists, shooting percentage, and other key metrics.

In fact, in an August 30th game, Clark’s performance all but sealed her claim to the Rookie of the Year title, dropping 31 points and 12 assists. Meanwhile, Reese, staying on the court even after Clark exited, was accused of “stat padding” by some critics, focusing on accumulating personal stats rather than contributing meaningfully to her team’s success.

The Injury Question

Reese’s official explanation for her season-ending absence is a wrist injury she sustained during a game against the Los Angeles Sparks. However, many fans and analysts have raised eyebrows at this explanation. Video footage from the game shows Reese continuing to play with no visible signs of injury, using her supposedly injured wrist to fight for rebounds and even hit a three-pointer with ease. Post-game interviews also showed no signs of discomfort, leading some to speculate that her “injury” may not be as severe as she claims.

Adding fuel to the fire, Reese took to social media to defend herself, a move that seemed unusual for an athlete with a legitimate, season-ending injury. Some fans argue that this could be an attempt to shift the narrative after realizing she would not win Rookie of the Year, especially with Clark pulling ahead in nearly every statistical measure.

A Convenient Exit?

Critics have pointed out that Reese achieved one of her main goals for the season—breaking the WNBA single-season rebound record—just before her injury announcement. With little left to play for individually and Clark emerging as the undisputed Rookie of the Year, some suspect that Reese’s exit may have been more strategic than simply injury-related.

Further complicating the situation is the sudden resurgence of another WNBA star, A’ja Wilson, who was closing in on Reese’s rebound record just before suffering an injury of her own. Reese’s announcement, coming just as her biggest rival for the rebound record was sidelined, has led to widespread speculation about the timing and authenticity of her injury.

What Comes Next?

With Reese now out for the remainder of the season and Caitlin Clark continuing to impress, the question remains: Did Caitlin Clark’s dominance push Angel Reese to quit the season? Or was Reese’s injury as legitimate as she claims, and her decision to step away simply a matter of timing?

Regardless of the truth, the rivalry between these two young stars is far from over. As Reese heals and Clark continues to rise, basketball fans can expect more drama, competition, and perhaps a future showdown that will reignite the flames of this now infamous rivalry.