“No Clark. Now I’m Number One.” — Angel Reese’s Controversial Claim After Caitlin Clark’s Injury Shakes the WNBA to Its Core

News — 08/09/2025 · 0 Comment

The WNBA had barely caught its breath.

Just days after it was confirmed that Caitlin Clark — the league’s most valuable player, most watched rookie, and the face of a basketball revolution — would miss the remainder of the 2025 season, another headline landed.

And this one came with teeth.

Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky’s polarizing forward and self-declared “Bayou Barbie,” didn’t offer condolences.
She didn’t tweet a praying hands emoji.
She gave reporters one sentence — sharp, smug, and seismic:

“Now that she’s out, I’ll be number one.”

The Internet Didn’t Just React — It Exploded

Within minutes, X (Twitter) was melting down.
Two hashtags trended side by side — one glorifying her, the other calling for her to be benched:

#BayouBarbieNo1

#AngelOutOfLine

Fan reactions were anything but measured:

“She said what every player’s thinking — but no one’s bold enough to say.”

“This isn’t ambition. This is opportunism.”

“Caitlin put the league on her back, and Angel’s dancing on her injury report.”

Reese’s Instagram saw over 70,000 comments in 12 hours.
One of the top ones?
“You’ll never be her.”
Pinned by a Fever fan. Liked by thousands.

Stars Respond — And So Do Their Sponsors

Inside the league, silence didn’t last long.

Sue Bird, four-time WNBA champ, was direct on ESPN:

“You don’t elevate yourself by stepping over someone else’s pain. That’s not greatness. That’s ego.”

Shaquille O’Neal, a longtime Angel defender, stood firm:

“This ain’t high school. It’s professional sports.
You wanna be the best? Act like it. Talk like it. OWN it.”

But it was Candace Parker, the Chicago Sky legend, who delivered the sharpest sting:

“Angel has star power. But the best players… don’t need to say they’re number one. They just show it.”

Reebok, one of Reese’s primary sponsors, declined to comment — but insiders say internal calls were held, and marketing assets were “put on hold for review.”

Inside the Locker Room: Praise, Side-Eyes, and Silence

Chicago Sky teammates were caught off guard.

One player (anonymously) told a reporter:

“We respect Angel, but the timing was tone-deaf. Everyone’s watching this league right now. And this is what we give them?”

Another source described the locker room as “icy” post-practice — with teammates “saying less, watching more.”

Head Coach Teresa Weatherspoon avoided direct commentary, but posted a cryptic message on Instagram:

“Sometimes the loudest voices come from those with the most to prove.”

Fuel on a Burning League

Even before Reese’s comment, the WNBA was wobbling.

Caitlin Clark’s injury had already triggered:

A 38% drop in national ratings

Ticket resale prices crashing in multiple markets

Talk of partial sponsor pullbacks

Now, Reese’s remarks have split the fanbase — and the locker rooms — into two warring camps:

    Team Angel: “She’s the moment. Let her cook. Villains run this league.”

    Team Clark (or at least, Not That): “This isn’t wrestling. This is women’s sports. Lead with class.”

Podcasts. Talk Shows. And the Return of the Rivalry Narrative

First Take, Undisputed, and every major sports talk show ran with the soundbite.

Stephen A. Smith:

“Confidence is one thing. But this ain’t confidence — it’s bad timing and worse optics.”

Joy Taylor:

“Angel Reese just told the world: ‘I care more about the crown than the team.’”

Some shows even questioned whether WNBA PR should’ve stepped in — citing “escalating reputational damage” during a time when the league desperately needs public trust.

A Dangerous Moment for the WNBA

The controversy now isn’t just about who’s number one — it’s about what kind of league the WNBA wants to be.

Does it reward shock value over sportsmanship?

Is brand-building more important than locker room culture?

Can it afford another PR wound while its biggest star is recovering?

One sports business analyst said it plainly:

“If Reese becomes the face of the league now, the risk is real. She’s polarizing — not uniting. And in Caitlin’s absence, fans are watching everything under a microscope.”

Angel Reese Doubles Down

Instead of walking it back, Reese posted a cryptic follow-up on X:

“Pressure makes diamonds. Don’t cry when I shine.”

It was liked by Shaq.
Retweeted by fans.
And screenshot by every major outlet.

If this was a test — she’s not retreating.
She’s walking into the flames.

The Final Possession

Angel Reese wanted the spotlight.
She just inherited all of it — heat included.

With Caitlin Clark gone, the runway is clear.
But being number one means more than soundbites.

Now, every turnover, every missed rebound, every eye-roll — will be judged under the harshest light.

The league is watching. The fans are divided.
And the sponsors? They’re doing the math.

Because in the WNBA, confidence might get you noticed.
But leadership is what gets you remembered.

And the question Angel Reese just asked the world is this:

“Can I be the face of the league?”
The answer won’t come from interviews.

It’ll come from what happens next.

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