When it comes to stirring the pot, Sheryl Swoopes is a name that quickly springs to mind. The WNBA icon has been a frequent source of debate with her comments, especially concerning rookie Caitlin Clark. From dismissing Clark as merely a passer to ignoring her impact on the Indiana Fever’s success, Swoopes has been a vocal critic of the 2024 draft’s top pick. Interestingly, she has shown a more positive side toward Clark’s rival, Angel Reese, often praising her. Yet, it seems even Reese isn’t immune to Swoopes’ critical eye now.
The Houston Comets star appeared on the latest episode of the Gil’s Arena podcast, where Caitlin Clark’s performance came to be a segment of the discussion. While making her case, Swoopes couldn’t help but bring Angel Reese into the conversation. The 4x champion accepts that the Sky rookie has been impressive with her game, but not dominant like she used to be in college. Same went for Clark.
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“Everybody wants to compare Caitlin to Angel, which, to me, I hate because they’re two totally different players. Angel Reese was drafted number seven to Chicago, not a lot of expectations. People were like ‘slipped in the draft she slipped in the draft,’ ‘she couldn’t score in college’ all of that. There was no way I thought Angel was going to come into the league and be dominant, which she wasn’t,” said Swoopes.
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via Getty
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 25: Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky reacts to a call during he second half of a WNBA game against the Connecticut Sun on May 25, 2024 at Wintrust Arena on in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Drafted as the seventh pick, the Sky forward quickly made waves in the league, setting a new single-season rebound record and becoming a strong contender for Rookie of the Year, going head-to-head with the Fever’s No. 22. She was also making a strong impact with averages of 13.6 points and 1.9 assists per game. However, Swoopes emphasized, “Angel’s game, her offensive game, everybody knows this, has never been [exceptional], it wasn’t even that great in college right. So yes, she has to work on that.”
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The rookie did struggle with her shooting and took in a few criticisms as well. Sue Bird believes she has the potential to improve on that as well. So Swoopes makes it clear that Reese has her strong points, calling her one of the best rebounders, but she has room for improvement too. Something she suggests in her view of Caitlin Clark as well.
Caitlin Clark’s stats not enough to impress Sheryl Swoopes
In a recent episode of Gil Arena’s podcast, the spotlight was firmly on Caitlin Clark’s rookie season. As the discussion delved into the Indiana Fever star’s impressive stats and initial challenges, Sheryl Swoopes shared her trademark take on the rookie. While acknowledging Clark’s solid performance, Swoopes noted that she’s doing well but has yet to truly dominate the league.
“Those are hell of numbers… but to me, that’s not dominating,” stated Swoopes on Clark’s stats. She also elaborated on her stance, recalling her earlier comments where she predicted neither Caitlin Clark nor fellow rookie Angel Reese would make an immediate impact in the WNBA.
“People were like, ‘Oh my God, you said she wouldn’t be good,’ but I didn’t say she wouldn’t be good. What I said was I didn’t think Caitlin, or Angel, would come into the league and dominate immediately, which I don’t think either of them did. …I still don’t think [Clark’s] dominating, but she’s a different player than she was in the first half of the season,” mentioned the Houston legend.
However, despite Swoopes’ skepticism, Caitlin Clark has made waves in the WNBA record books, and not just as a rookie. She set the league record with 321 single-season assists and achieved a remarkable 19 assists in a single game. On top of that, she’s the fastest player ever to hit 300 assists. Dominant or not, the two rookies definitely make their mark.
