Sports analyst Jimmy Traina expressed his thoughts on the comparisons between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, as well as the impact attributed to the former LSU star in women’s basketball. In the latest episode of the “SI Media” show on Thursday, Traina, along with Andrew Perloff and Peter Schrager, delved into the significant events in the sports world in 2024.
The discussion revolved around Clark’s influence on the game, with Schrager initiating a conversation by asking his colleagues if they had watched the USC team led by JuJu Watkins against Paige Bueckers’ UConn Huskies. Perloff acknowledged Clark’s competition against players who raised the level of the game, specifically mentioning Angel Reese.
“No, but that’s ok. It’s like Jordan in the ’90s. Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and Patrick Ewing elevated the NBA in the ’90s. She’s like the Michael Jordan of women’s basketball, I completely agree with Peter. I’ve been watching much more women’s basketball lately—I personally prefer the college game over the pros at the moment.”
“The pros are a bit more one-on-one right now, but they’ll catch up, and Angel Reese is contributing significantly,” Perloff noted before Traina interjected to dismiss the comparison. [19:10 mark]
Traina vehemently criticized the narrative with an expletive-laden message.
“That’s just absurd, it’s completely absurd,” Traina exclaimed. “She’s achieving numbers that no one else is.”
Prior to this, Schrager highlighted that the hype surrounding the USC-UConn game wouldn’t have been as impactful without Caitlin Clark.
“What I want to know is how many people actually watched that game you mentioned, not as many as watched Caitlin Clark,” Traina retorted.
Angel Reese claimed she was responsible for the WNBA success in 2024
Similar to Andre Perloff, Angel Reese asserted that she made a significant impact on women’s basketball during her time at LSU and anticipated doing the same in the WNBA just a few weeks into her rookie season.
“People are showing up to games. Celebrities are attending games, arenas are sold out. All because of one single game. Looking at that, I’ll embrace that role, I’ll be the antagonist and continue to do so for my teammates.”
“I know I’ll leave a mark in history. In 20 years, I’ll look back and say, ‘Yeah, women’s basketball is where it is not just because of one person. It’s because of me too.’ And I want you all to recognize that.”
These debates seem far from over, as fans of Reese and Clark often clash in support of their favorite players.
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Edited by Orlando Silva
