STEPHEN A. Smith doesn’t think Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are a real rivalry.
On Monday’s episode of First Take, Stephen A. explained how Clark and Reese aren’t suited to be a rivalry.
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“I don’t see it as a rivalry,” Stephen A. said.
“That’s how I see basketball.”
Stephen A. analyzed some of the greatest rivalries in basketball history and explained that the two players had similar playing styles.
“Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is not competing with Larry Bird any more than Magic Johnson was competing with Larry Bird,” said Stephen A..
“Even though Larry Bird was a forward and Magic Johnson was a point guard, both 6-foot-2, they’re playing against each other and their responsibilities to their team are similar.”
Stephen A. also commented that Clark and Reese are not on the same skill level, so it’s not a real rivalry.
“Angel Reese is a very good player who I think has a very, very bright future in the WNBA,” Stephen A. said.
“I see Caitlin Clark, like I said about her in college, this is the Steph Curry woman.”
Instead, Stephen A. added a new name to the conversation for someone who could be a potential rival to Clark.
He said the New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu could match up well with Clark.
“This is not shadow [Sabrina] Ionescu, because she showed up at All-Star weekend and, sir, she can be that too,” Stephen A. said.
“If Ionescu and Caitlin Clark were to face each other, it would be a rivalry I’m willing to take on because their games are similar.”
Stephen A. admitted that he understood where the rivalry between Clark and Reese comes from.
In the 2023 NCAA championship game, Reese took down Clark and eyes were always on the two moving forward.
However, Stephen A. thinks they play too different a game to be considered rivals.
“Angel Reese is essentially a forward and Caitlin Clark is a guard,” said Stephen A..
“If it’s purely about their game, their games are on two different ends of the spectrum.”
Clark and Reese have already played two spectacular games against each other in their rookie season.
Clark currently leads the WNBA head-to-head 2-0.
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