Why Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are framed so differently, according to a coach

It’s been a constant discussion: who has had a greater impact on women’s basketball—Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese? The debate spans both the college game and the pros.

Recently, sports content creator Mariah Rose engaged in a debate with a group of Angel Reese critics, who had plenty to say about the former LSU champion and rising WNBA star.

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One of the critics, a girls’ basketball coach, acknowledged that both players influence the game—but in very different ways.

“Caitlin Clark moves the needle on basketball. Versus — Angel who moves the needle on viewership, on interests, on engagement.”

She pointed out that Reese’s cultural relevance is impossible to ignore: “Because she’s on McDonald’s bags, because she has her own podcast, because she’s at the Met Gala, because she’s transcending the sport and she’s showing girls femininity.”

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The coach also added that even people who don’t watch basketball recognize both Reese and Clark.

Rose then challenged the narrative, asking, “Would Angel Reese be on a McDonald’s bag if she was not a champion averaging a double-double?” She also asked if she thought Reese was solely an influencer.

The coach disagreed.

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“They both impact—one impacts because of her visibility and one impacts and actually pushes the game.”

She went on to say, “If we’re talking about just the game,” she draws from her personal coaching experience with young girls that they mention Reese in conversations like hair and style.

She said, “When people talk about Caitlin Clark, they are talking about—jumpshot.”

“Angel impacts wanting to be a part of the culture. Caitlin impacts wanting to be a better ballplayer.”

@houseofhighlights “Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have BOTH contributed to WNBA rise” debate 🏀🌟 @CLASH @mariah rose #angelreese #wnba #basketball #caitlinclark ♬ original sound - House of Highlights

This conversation highlights a larger dynamic at play in women’s sports today—where visibility, cultural influence and on-court excellence are often debated as separate lanes, when in reality, players like Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark can excel across all of them.

Reese isn’t just a cultural icon—she’s a champion, a double-double machine and one of the most dominant rebounders in the game. Clark, with her elite shooting and record-breaking performances, is raising the bar for offensive play.

Both are redefining what it means to be a star in women’s basketball, and the game is better for it.