The 2025 WNBA season has just kicked off, but the battle between the two hottest rookies in women’s basketball – Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark – has quickly escalated. Recently, the news that Caitlin Clark was named **Rookie of the Year** with an overwhelming majority of votes has caused a stir on social media, and according to many unconfirmed sources, Angel Reese could not hide her disappointment to the point of making a shocking statement: *”I swear I will never play my best in the WNBA, I am not worthy of your respect.”*

Is this true? Or is it just a blow to fan the flames of rivalry that is increasingly burning between the two young stars?

Caitlin Clark, the bright star of the Indiana Fever, won almost completely in the “Rookie of the Year” vote, receiving 66 out of 67 votes. Only one vote belonged to Angel Reese, a player of the Chicago Sky. Although Reese also had an impressive season with stable stats, the fact that she was not rated as highly as Clark has caused many to question the bias of the media and the voting system.

Notably, Reese’s supporters believe that the WNBA and the media are **”overly favoring”** Caitlin Clark simply because she is the face of the new wave, attracts a large white audience and receives many large commercial contracts. Meanwhile, Reese – who was an NCAA MVP and played a key role in the Chicago Sky – does not receive the recognition she deserves.

Rumors that Reese said that she **”will never play her best in the WNBA again because she does not deserve the respect”** have spread rapidly on social media. Although there is no recording or official source to confirm, this is enough to cause a stir in public opinion.

Clark’s fans believe Reese is **jealous** and can’t accept the fact that Clark is the main factor that attracts millions of viewers to the WNBA. On the other hand, Reese’s fans insist that she is just **angry at an unfair system**, where players of color are often undervalued despite their equal or superior performance.

While both have denied any conflict off the court, what happened on and off the court tells a different story. Clark once coldly responded in an interview: *“When did I ever guard her? And when did she guard me?”* – implicitly confirming that Reese was not a worthy direct opponent.

For her part, Reese once said: *“Clark and I don’t hate each other. But I think people want to make us polar opposites.”* However, her on-court actions – like the iconic “you can’t see me” in the 2023 NCAA game – and her post-game reactions to major awards, still make fans believe **their battle is not just about competition but also about iconic status in women’s sports culture.**

While there is no evidence that Reese has actually declared that she will not play her best, the rumor is enough to create a wave of doubt and division in the WNBA community. If Reese truly feels disrespected, this will seriously affect her competitive spirit and image in the eyes of fans and sponsors.

If this is just hype from Reese’s anti-fans, it is another proof that **she is under a lot of pressure in the media race with Caitlin Clark** – who is being seen as “the female version of Steph Curry”.

The confrontation between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark is not only the highlight of the season, but also a symbol of the transformation of the WNBA. One side is a symbol of explosive commercialism and a new wave, the other side is a representative of fighting spirit, diversity and the desire to be recognized.

Whether Reese actually said those harsh words or not, it is undeniable that she is in the middle of a battle not only with her opponent, but also with prejudice and expectations from public opinion. And perhaps, it is these “hidden dramas” that make the WNBA hotter than ever.