Selling Caitlin Clark‘s merchandise at sporting goods stores rather than Angel Reese, as former WNBA star Val Whiting has justified, saying she would not “deserve” to be treated the same.
Clark, the top choice in the WNBA Draft, left her position on the NCAA squad Iowa Hawkeyes to join with the Indiana Fever, launching her professional career.
During her four years in the college program, the 22-year-old broke multiple records, including beating Kelsey Plum’s record for most points scored. Angel Reese, a power forward who was selected by the Chicago Sky with the seventh overall pick in the first round, will join her in the WNBA.
Despite being a rookie in 2024, Clark’s Indiana outfit will be sold in Dick’s Sporting Goods stores. This is a rare move, although people wishing to wear her jersey seem to be more motivated by her reputation. Nevertheless, despite Reese’s rising fame, her jersey is nowhere to be seen.
Whiting, who spent seven years as a player for the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Reign, disagrees that Reese should be treated the same way as Clark and denies that the choice would be made on the basis of race. She wrote,
“Angel Reese definitely would not deserve to have her gear in Dicks. I’d be upset about that too,” “There are vets that are PROVEN out here. Don’t minimize every push-back to race. It’s juvenile and short sighted.”
Praise for Caitlin Clark’s tremendous impact
Whiting is not the only person who thinks Clark has revolutionized the women’s game; Sheryl Swoopes, a WNBA legend and Hall of Famer, has already praised Clark for her amazing influence. According to Swoopes,
“Caitlin Clark is probably the best shooter, especially in the college game, that I’ve ever seen. I’m not saying there haven’t been others, but that I’ve ever seen,”
“She has absolutely taken the women’s game to a different level. She’ sbrought more eyes, people who never watched a single game of women’s basketball tuned in because they wanted to see who is this little girl from Iowa shooting these logo 3s.”