The 2024 WNBA rookie class is arguably the most anticipated draft class in women’s basketball history. Obviously, the centerpiece is former Iowa guard and Indiana Fever standout Caitlin Clark, but Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky was also a collegiate great at LSU.
Following their meeting in the national championship game in 2023 and a subsequent showdown in the elite eight in 2024, with LSU winning the first and Iowa winning the second, the two players’ careers will be inextricably linked. That’s going to continue after Angel Reese fired a shot at Caitlin Clark following the Sky’s stunning upset victory against the defending Eastern Conference Champions, the New York Liberty.
This season, the Liberty had not lost a single game, including two victories over the Indiana Fever by a combined 47 points. Angel Reese’s 13 points and 9 rebounds helped the Sky win 90-81.
The context is that many have attributed Caitlin Clark’s popularity and potential boost to the WNBA Media Deal, which ends next season, to the WNBA’s first commitment to charter flights for all teams this year. While they are not yet at the point where all teams receive charter planes every game, this will be addressed soon.
However, I believe it is fair to say that many WNBA players disagree with the notion that Caitlin Clark is solely responsible for the charter flights. Make no mistake: Clark’s record-breaking popularity has something to do with it. However, some would argue that the league’s popularity was already expanding rapidly prior to Clark’s entrance this season.
