Star of the Chicago Sky Angel Reese expressed earlier this week how tired she is with Caitlin Clark taking all the credit for the increase in WNBA viewership. The former LSU standout explained her position by saying that she should have earned equal credit but hasn’t. Stephen A. Smith of First Take expressed full agreement with the attitude before outlining the possible racial component of the entire affair.
The commentator brought up the controversial scene from the 2023 NCAA National Championship Game, in which Reese made fun of Clark by throwing her signature celebration.
He pointed out that although the Iowa superstar, who hit her opponents first, took little to no attention at all, the LSU star took a lot of flak for the move.
Stephen A. Smith speaks about difference shown to Angel Reese as compared to Caitlin Clark
Smith claimed that Reese’s remarks emphasized the difference in treatment between her and Clark. He clarified,
“Caitlin Clark is white. And because she’s white and because she is considered box office and she’s a star who happens to be white. That is why when I brought up words like envy or jealous or resentment, I didn’t say it in a negative fashion, like, ‘Oh my god, it’s a problem. I used the word justified”
You know why? Because black people in this country for years have felt that level of ire. Because we have to be twice as good to get half as much.”
My thoughts on Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, race and more pic.twitter.com/JOj5LVpUeU
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) June 4, 2024
According to Smith, African-American celebrities, athletes, and even podcasters are held to a higher standard because they must be almost flawless to get anything close to the recognition, money, and recognition that their white counterparts would enjoy. The commentator went on to say that Reese’s remarks were essentially making the same point.
