Fans ROAST WNBA’s “Rivals Week” — STOP Forcing Clark vs Reese!

Fans ROAST WNBA’s “Rivals Week” — The Struggle to Create Genuine Rivalries

In the world of sports, rivalries are often what captivate fans the most. The drama, the tension, and the unforgettable moments that come with fierce competition are what keep people coming back for more. From the heated battles between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers to the intense rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, fans love to witness athletes go head-to-head in a way that transcends just the game. The WNBA, in its effort to grow the game and increase viewership, has recently introduced its own version of “Rivals Week.” However, what was intended to be an exciting and dramatic week of basketball has instead been met with widespread mockery and frustration.

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The WNBA’s Rivals Week: A Desperate Attempt to Spark Interest

The concept of “Rivals Week” was announced as part of the 2025 season schedule, designed to mimic the NBA’s highly successful rivalry games. The goal was clear: to showcase high-stakes matchups that would draw in fans and spark a new level of excitement for the WNBA. Commissioner Kathy Engelbert expressed hope that this week would feature the kind of iconic rivalries that could elevate the league to the next level. With the WNBA’s biggest stars in the mix, this was supposed to be a game-changing moment for women’s basketball. However, as soon as the matchups were unveiled, fans began to criticize the move, pointing out that none of these games seemed like true rivalries.

Fans React: “Stop Forcing the Rivalry”

The announcement was met with a wave of sarcasm and mockery across social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly known as Twitter). Fans quickly pointed out that the rivalries being promoted felt forced and artificial. While rivalries in sports are often born out of long-standing history, controversial moments, or repeated high-stakes matchups, many of the games scheduled for “Rivals Week” felt random and unearned. Fans expressed their frustration, calling out the league for trying to manufacture excitement that wasn’t there.

The matchups for “Rivals Week” were as follows:

Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky (featuring Caitlyn Clark and Angel Reese)

New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx

Atlanta Dream vs. Phoenix Mercury

Golden State Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks

The most glaring criticism came from the matchup between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, which was based largely on the individual storylines of Caitlyn Clark and Angel Reese. Fans pointed out that the only reason this was being touted as a rivalry was because of their college history. In fact, many argued that there was no real competition between the two teams, and any “rivalry” between Clark and Reese was purely manufactured by the league and media. Both players themselves had even downplayed any animosity, with Clark stating that they had never even directly guarded each other during a game.

The WNBA’s Marketing Blunder: Ignoring the Fans’ Intelligence

While the WNBA’s intentions behind Rivals Week may have been noble, the execution was poorly received. True rivalries are built over time, through repeated battles in the postseason, intense matchups, and, at times, personal animosity. You cannot simply label two teams as rivals and expect the fans to buy into it. Fans know when a rivalry is real, and in the case of the WNBA, many of the supposed “rivalries” felt like a shallow marketing ploy. The inclusion of the Golden State Valkyries — an expansion team that had yet to even play a season — only added to the ridicule. Fans took to Reddit and other platforms to joke about how a new team could already have a “rivalry” with the Sparks simply based on geography.

The WNBA’s attempt to create a rivalry between Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury also fell flat, despite the intrigue surrounding the storylines of Brittney Griner and the Mercury’s dramatic history. Fans questioned whether casual viewers cared about these backstories, especially if they hadn’t been following the WNBA closely. The league’s attempt to force rivalries, rather than letting them develop naturally, led to an inevitable backlash.

Caitlyn Clark’s Dominance: The League’s New Star Power

The biggest story of the WNBA’s 2024 season was Caitlyn Clark’s meteoric rise. After an outstanding rookie season, Clark quickly became the face of the league. Her explosive performances, her leadership on the court, and her ability to draw in a massive following of fans were undeniable. The WNBA quickly realized the impact Clark had on the sport’s visibility, and her games became must-watch events. In fact, Clark was featured in a staggering 41 nationally broadcast games during the 2025 season, far more than any other player or team in the league.

While this focus on Clark helped increase the league’s viewership, it also led to some tensions. Other players and teams began to feel overshadowed by Clark’s dominance, and the optics of her being given so much national attention created an uneven playing field. As Minnesota Lynx star Nafisa Collier pointed out, there are stars across the league, but not all of them were receiving the same exposure as Clark. The WNBA found itself balancing the desire to promote its rising stars while also being fair to other teams and players who had put in years of hard work.

Rivalries That Aren’t Rivalries

At its core, “Rivals Week” was an attempt to create something that simply wasn’t there. True rivalries come from years of competition, dramatic playoff encounters, and unforgettable moments. The WNBA had hoped to emulate the success of the NBA’s rivalry week, where games like Lakers vs. Celtics have been a fixture for decades, but the reality was that these new rivalries felt forced. The WNBA couldn’t manufacture these storylines overnight, and the attempt to create a rivalry between Clark and Reese was a prime example of this. Fans saw through the league’s attempts to hype up games that didn’t have the foundation to back it up.

Even the supposed marquee matchup of Clark vs. Reese was more of a product of media hype than actual competitive fire. The rivalry that was built between them during college basketball was largely based on one infamous moment—Reese waving her hand and pointing to her ring after a victory in the NCAA championship. However, that moment didn’t translate into a deep personal rivalry, and both players have expressed nothing but respect for each other.

The WNBA Needs to Let Rivalries Develop Naturally

The best rivalries in sports grow naturally over time. They are built through repeated high-stakes encounters, playoff battles, and sometimes a little bit of trash talk. They aren’t forced by marketing departments or executives hoping to generate interest. The WNBA needs to understand that fans will gravitate toward the matchups they care about, not the ones the league tries to manufacture. Rivalries can’t be created by slapping a label on a game; they have to come from real competitive tensions and memorable moments on the court.

Instead of trying to force these artificial rivalries, the WNBA should focus on showcasing the league’s talent and letting the stories evolve naturally. For instance, Asia Wilson vs. Caitlyn Clark could be an exciting matchup without needing a “rivalry” label. A clash between these two superstars, with high stakes and the potential for a finals preview, would be an event that basketball fans would flock to. The WNBA also has the opportunity to promote emerging rivalries like Paige Beckers vs. Caitlyn Clark, based on their history in college basketball, without trying to fabricate a feud between them.

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The WNBA’s Path Forward

Ultimately, the WNBA is at a crossroads. The league is growing, and there is a clear interest in the game, especially with the rise of players like Caitlyn Clark. But if the league wants to continue to build momentum, it must find a way to capitalize on the genuine storylines and rivalries that emerge naturally. It’s not enough to throw together random matchups and hope that fans will bite. Rivalries cannot be created on demand. They need to be earned.

The league should focus on showcasing its stars and letting the competition speak for itself. By highlighting genuine matchups, whether they’re born from college history or current player performance, the WNBA can keep fans engaged and invested. But they must respect the intelligence of their audience and understand that true rivalries, like true drama, cannot be manufactured.

As we look ahead to the 2025 season, it’s clear that the WNBA has some work to do. But with the right focus on authentic storytelling and the power of its star players, the league has the potential to elevate the game to new heights—if it learns to let the rivalries happen on their own.

Fans may not be ready to embrace “Rivals Week” just yet, but with time, they will gravitate toward the matchups that matter. The key is to stop forcing it and let the game speak for itself.