PHOENIX — Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will once again step into the spotlight during All-Star Weekend with their matchup against the U.S. Olympic team.
They'll get to team-up for the first time in the WNBA All-Star game Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC after being rivals in college. Reese's LSU Tigers topped Clark's Iowa team for the national championship in 2023. The Hawkeyes knocked out the Tigers this past year in the Elite Eight.
''Everybody can wear their ‘Get Along' shirts together for one day, at least,'' Reese said, joking. ''So I know a lot of people are going to come and watch us, to see all of us. But there's a lot of talent within both rosters of the teams, so they're in for a good one.''
While there has been so much hype on the pair entering the WNBA, the duo has shown they can compete with the best players in the league. That's helped show this isn't just a moment for the WNBA, but a larger movement for the sport.
''I definitely think it's much more than women's basketball. I think you look across the board at all women's sports, and people are really invested in it and show up for it,'' Clark said. ''Obviously, women's basketball has kind of been at the forefront of all of it. And for good reason, as it should across the board, whether it's college women's basketball or the WNBA. The talent level has been really good.''
While both Clark and Reese have been challenged through physical play on the court and and a lot of noise off the court during their rookie season, they've flourished.
''I told Angel at the draft that I'm not trying to put anything heavy on her, but this league depends on you playing, you know, well. And she understood, she understood that things weren't going to be handed to her,'' said WNBA union president and Seattle Storm center Nneka Ogwumike. ''I think that's why she's doing well. I think there were a lot of naysayers and I think there was a lot of debris coming Caitlin's way, and they've handled it well.''
The pair have helped the league to record ratings and attendance through the first part of the season, building on what they achieved in college. Clark finished as the NCAA's Division I all-time scoring leader and Clark won an NCAA championship at LSU.
