Stephen A. Smith recently made headlines with his sharp commentary on Angel Reese following her latest actions on the court. In a heated segment, Smith didn’t hold back, calling out Reese for what he deemed an unnecessary stunt that overshadowed her talent.
“She’s not Caitlin Clark,” Smith remarked, emphasizing that while Reese is an incredibly skilled player, she should avoid trying to mimic the behavior or persona of someone else.
Smith argued that Reese’s actions during recent games reflected a lack of maturity and sportsmanship, especially considering the spotlight she’s under as one of the game’s rising stars.
While acknowledging Reese’s undeniable talent and potential, Smith stressed that she needs to develop her own identity as a player rather than engaging in what he described as attention-seeking behavior.
“If you’re going to make noise, let it be because of your game,” Smith said, highlighting the importance of letting one’s performance speak for itself.
The comparison to Caitlin Clark, another star in women’s college basketball known for her confident and at times fiery demeanor, seemed to be a focal point of Smith’s criticism.
While Clark’s confidence has earned her admiration, Smith suggested that Reese’s actions may have crossed a line, calling on her to respect the game and show the kind of professionalism that is expected from top-tier athletes.
Smith’s comments sparked debate, with some defending Reese’s passionate style, while others agreed with his call for more restraint.
Regardless, it’s clear that both Reese and Smith have set the stage for further conversations on the balance between confidence and sportsmanship in the world of basketball.
Stephen A. Smith Befuddled by Angel Reese’s Branding Compared to Caitlin Clark
Stephen A. Smith explained why Angel Reese’s provocative New Year’s Eve posts left him scratching his head, especially in comparison to Caitlin Clark.
Chicago Sky superstar Angel Reese received a lot of pushback after posting photos and videos of her in a provocative dress on New Year’s Eve to her Instagram.
In fact, Reese ended up deactivating her Instagram on New Year’s Day (although it has since been reactivated on January 8) and many believe the reason was because of the negative comments she received from these posts.
Sports media juggernaut Stephen A. Smith offered his sentiment on this during a January 7 episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show and ended up comparing Reese to her peer and presumed rival Caitlin Clark.
“What’s not debatable is the fact that Caitlin Clark has handled her branding extremely well,” Smith said. “Whereas with Angel Reese, sometimes you find yourself scratching your head and wondering what the hell she’s doing, like that [New Year’s Eve] photo right there.
“Listen… [Reese] is a beautiful young lady. And there’s a lot of beautiful young ladies in the WNBA. But when you do that, you can’t come down the line and complain about being objectified later on,” Smith added. “It’s not going to work with people. And whether it’s right or wrong, it’s not going to work.
“And when you do stuff like [the New Year’s Eve post], and you’re drawing attention to yourself because of that, that can be problematic for you,” Smith added.
“Especially when the comparison is going to be drawn to Caitlin Clark, who isn’t doing such things. That might not be fair, I’m not saying it is. And you certainly have the right to dress how you want, and to do what you want, and to live your life. But people have a right to have their opinions about what you put on display.
“And if they don’t like it, and if they believe it’s not the right thing for you to be doing when you talk about building your brand, I don’t know how you can argue that. That’s my struggle,” Smith concluded.
It will be interesting to see how Smith’s sentiment is received by the women’s basketball community.
