National Analyst Dismisses Angel Reese and Claims Caitlin Clark Is the Only Star That Matters

Angel Reese has never been a stranger to criticism. Some of it has been fair—like being called a bricklayer and stat-padder for her high-volume rebounding that doesn’t always convert into points. But much of the recent backlash has been overblown and unfair. False rumors about her wanting Kate Martin out of The Unrivaled have circulated widely, and she even caught heat for her New Year’s Eve dress. Still, Reese has never been one to back down. And now, a sports analyst has added to the noise—questioning her value to the WNBA and suggesting that only one star really matters.

On a recent episode of OutKick, Dan Dakich let loose in his signature blunt style. “So, you’re going to sit out. You lost 40, 50 million. You know who would clap for you all sitting out? The NBA. So, they don’t have to subsidize your dumb asses to the tune of 40 to 50 million a year,” Dakich said, targeting Reese and fellow WNBA player Dijonai Carrington. “Like, if I’m an NBA owner, I didn’t get rich by wasting a couple million on something that has no chance of making money. Honest to God. So, these two sit out. Sit out. See what happens. Now, I personally, I would miss watching the Fever. I would miss watching Caitlin Clark. But I wouldn’t miss anything else.”

His comments were a direct response to Reese’s recent statements on her podcast, where she said, “I gotta get in the meetings because I’m hearing, If y’all don’t give us what we want, we sitting out.” Reese has been vocal about WNBA salaries for a while now. Back in October, she went viral for revealing just how little her rookie contract pays. “The WNBA don’t pay my bills at all,” Reese admitted. “Yo, I’m living beyond my means!” Her $73,439 rookie salary isn’t enough, especially compared to the millions NBA rookies make straight out of college.

But Reese isn’t just speaking for herself—she’s echoing a larger movement among WNBA players pushing for better pay and working conditions. And the numbers back up the argument that the league is on an upward trajectory. According to NBA Communications, the WNBA attracted an all-time record of over 54 million unique viewers across ABC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ION, and NBA TV in 2024. A record 22 regular-season games averaged at least 1 million viewers, and the total viewing hours across all national networks reached 136.29 million—another record.

The 2024 season was the most-viewed regular season ever across ESPN platforms, averaging 1.19 million viewers—a 170% increase from the previous season. The two most-watched WNBA games ever on ABC happened in 2024: 2.23 million viewers for Seattle Storm vs. Indiana Fever on August 18 and 1.71 million viewers for Indiana vs. New York Liberty on May 18. Indiana’s matchup with the Connecticut Sun on May 14 drew 2.12 million viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA game ever on ESPN2.

This surge in interest coincides with the rise of stars like Caitlin Clark, Reese, and others—but according to Dakich, Clark is the only player driving that momentum. This hasn’t been the first time that Dakich has criticized Reese.

Dakich’s Ongoing Attacks on Angel Reese Reveal a Pattern of Dismissal

In September 2024, Dakich was equally harsh toward Reese when she spoke out about the racist treatment she’d endured from Clark’s fanbase. “When she starts talking about racism you know what it is. Indiana fans are the best in the country—they understand basketball, they have cheered on white, black, you name it—and so have Iowa fans. But she’s really dumb. This is really easy,” Dakich stated on OutKick.

He went further, accusing Reese of fabricating her experiences. “She’ll get a ton of support from people around: ‘Oh man, you stood up, Queen.’ No, you didn’t. You lied, you’re lying, you lied then, you lied now, you’re going to continue to lie,” Dakich added. His words sparked backlash, but he didn’t back down.

In January 2025, when Caitlin Clark was dealing with a dangerous stalker, Dakich took issue with the fact that Reese hadn’t spoken up in support. “Not one of these people, not Jemele Hill, not Angel Reese, not one of these people that so vehemently defended Angel Reese and how she’s victimized, has stepped up to say anything about Caitlin Clark having a very dangerous stalker,” Dakich said.

“I haven’t heard Angel Reese, who b*tches, whines, and moans about every damn thing that somebody says to her… I haven’t heard any of these people say a word in support of Caitlin Clark going through this,” Dakich continued. His message was clear: Clark matters, and Reese does not.

Reese has yet to fire back at Dakich’s latest remarks, but she’s got bigger battles to fight. She isn’t letting the noise distract her. She’s zeroed in on the bigger picture—pushing for higher pay and greater visibility for WNBA players as the league’s popularity continues to soar.

The upcoming CBA negotiations could be a defining moment. If Dakich is right, the WNBA might need to pump the brakes on expansion—suggesting the league can’t financially support new teams right now. But if Reese’s vision holds true, higher pay and new teams like the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire could mark the next phase of the WNBA’s rise. The stakes are high, and soon enough, we will tell the story.