Jason Whitlock believes Angel Reese owes some of her fame to Caitlin Clark and even suggests nobody would even know her name at all without Caitlin Clark.

Sports commentator Jason Whitlock has sparked fresh debate in the basketball world with his latest comments about Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. According to Whitlock, much of Angel Reese’s current fame and visibility can be traced directly to her rivalry with Clark—and he goes so far as to say that, without Caitlin Clark, “nobody would even know Angel Reese’s name.”

Whitlock’s remarks come as both players continue to dominate headlines in women’s basketball. While Reese has enjoyed a meteoric rise since her college days, Whitlock argues that it was her on-court battles with Clark—most notably during the NCAA tournament—that truly catapulted her into the national spotlight.

“Angel Reese is a talented player, but let’s be honest: her biggest moments, the ones that made her a household name, all happened because she was going up against Caitlin Clark,” Whitlock said on his show. “If Clark wasn’t there, we wouldn’t be having these conversations about Angel Reese at all.”

The statement has divided fans and analysts. Supporters of Whitlock’s view point to the massive ratings and attention their matchups have drawn, suggesting that Clark’s star power elevated everyone around her—including her fiercest rivals. Critics, however, argue that Reese’s talent and charisma would have shone through regardless, and that she deserves credit for her own hard work and achievements.

Regardless of where fans stand, one thing is clear: the rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark has become one of the defining stories in women’s basketball today. Whether or not Reese owes her fame to Clark, their connection has undeniably shaped the narrative of the sport—and kept audiences coming back for more.