In over two decades of watching NBA basketball, I’ve seen my fair share of outrageously disrespectful moments from the media and the basketball world. We’ve witnessed Bradley Beal’s shocking All-Star snub in 2020, despite averaging 30 points a game, and the infamous 2016 James Harden omission from the All-NBA team after a 29-point season while playing all 82 games. And let’s not forget the glaring disrespect shown when Dame Lillard was left off the NBA’s Top 75 list in favor of Dwight Howard, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and an NBA Champion. These moments were nothing short of ludicrous, but nothing could have prepared me for the media’s egregious treatment of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese in 2023.

On August 29th, with the WNBA playoffs on the horizon, ESPN made a decision that raised eyebrows across the basketball community. As the Rookie of the Year race heated up, ESPN had the audacity to place Angel Reese ahead of Caitlin Clark on their Rookie Ladder. Now, you may wonder why that’s so outrageous—let me break it down for you.

Angel Reese had been actively targeting Caitlin Clark for months. From mocking her with John Cena’s “You Can’t See Me” gesture during the 2023 NCAA Championship to a physical confrontation in the WNBA when Reese smacked Clark on the head, it was clear there was animosity. This was followed by more passive-aggressive behavior, including a controversial three-pointer she hit at the All-Star Weekend practice right after Clark missed hers. Reese downplayed any personal beef with Clark, claiming they were just “competitors” on the court, but anyone who watched closely could tell that it was far from just basketball for her.

So, when ESPN decided to elevate Reese over Clark, I couldn’t help but think it was a slap in the face to the undeniable talent of Caitlin Clark. Fast forward to August 30th, 2023—an unforgettable day when Clark would make sure to let her game do the talking. It was the final rookie showdown between Clark and Reese, and Caitlin had a chance to assert herself as the true top rookie in the league. The stage was set: the game was held in Chicago for the first-ever Barbie-themed match, with Angel Reese, dubbed “Shytown Barbie,” hyped up by the crowd, while Caitlin Clark remained laser-focused on the task at hand.

The game started with Reese and the Chicago Sky playing with a lot of confidence, but Clark, ever the professional, quickly showed who was boss. While the Sky’s supporting cast caught fire early, draining three-pointers left and right, Clark kept her composure, even sinking a logo three to start the second quarter and rallying the Fever back into contention. By the time the first quarter ended, the Fever had cut the Sky’s lead to just three points.

And that’s when the drama truly unfolded. As Clark continued to light it up, the Sky’s luck ran out. Angel Reese, who had come into the game with a reputation for being a “bully” on the court, was exposed as struggling against the Fever defense. By the time the third quarter rolled around, Clark had racked up 23 points and 9 assists, while Reese only managed five points and seven rebounds.

As the game entered the fourth quarter, the difference between Clark and Reese became glaringly obvious. Caitlin Clark was doing it all—shooting, passing, and playing with a swagger that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Reese, meanwhile, could hardly keep up, and the game turned into a one-sided affair. At one point, the Fever had a 25-point lead, and Clark was tossing up “horse shots” like it was a pick-up game.

But it was Reese’s behavior late in the game that really set the stage for her humiliation. With the game already out of reach, and her team trailing by 27 points, Reese stayed in the game—desperately trying to pad her stats. It was a classic case of “stat padding,” as she attempted to secure a double-double by grabbing meaningless rebounds and taking unnecessary shots in garbage time. Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark was on the bench, laughing with her teammates and enjoying the fruits of her dominance. To make matters worse for Reese, she missed back-to-back free throws, further fueling the fire of online critics who were quick to call her out for disrespecting the game.

The contrast couldn’t have been more stark. Clark, who had been the driving force behind her team’s success, was now on the bench, content and relaxed, while Reese was still on the floor, desperately trying to pad her numbers. The humiliation for Angel Reese didn’t end there. When the game was over, Caitlin Clark had finished with a spectacular 31 points and 12 assists, a commanding performance that left no doubt about who the better player was. Reese, on the other hand, ended the game with 10 points and 11 rebounds—barely scraping together a double-double after her stat-padding antics.

It was clear: Caitlin Clark had exacted her revenge, and she did it in the most dignified way possible—by simply dominating on the court. She let her basketball skills do all the talking, leaving Angel Reese to stew in her own frustration. Reese may have tried to get under Clark’s skin with her antics, but in the end, it was Clark who walked away victorious, both on the scoreboard and in the court of public opinion.

This game was more than just a basketball matchup—it was a lesson in poise, professionalism, and, most importantly, in how to let your game do the talking. Angel Reese may have been ESPN’s pick for Rookie of the Year, but after this performance, it was clear that Caitlin Clark had firmly staked her claim as the true top rookie in the WNBA.

This wasn’t just a win for Clark; it was a statement. A statement that despite the media’s attempts to create unnecessary drama and hype around rivalries, it’s her talent that speaks louder than any of the noise. If you’ve been following the WNBA this season, you know Caitlin Clark is not just the future of women’s basketball—she’s the present. And after the way she humiliated Angel Reese on the court, there’s no denying that.

For more on this incredible story and to dive deeper into Caitlin Clark’s rise to dominance, make sure to check out the next video where we break down how Clark was snubbed by the U.S. women’s Olympic team and why that might have been one of the biggest mistakes in recent sports history. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it!