Whenever Caitlin Clark plays, basketball is never the only story. There’s always a rivalry to dissect and a side to pick. Clark sees it happening all the time, and she thinks she knows why.
In a wide-ranging sit-down with Goldman Sachs’ global co-head of Wealth Management, John Mallory, the Fever star drew a hard line between rivalries that grow on their own and the ones that are cooked to sell.
Caitlin Clark Calls Out Manufactured WNBA Rivalries
Yes, Clark has revolutionized the WNBA since her Draft, but every time she steps on the court, most big games turn into storylines related to feuds and rivalries.
The drama continues to build and stays online, evolving into something she can rarely control. She’s now pushing back as she speaks to Mallory.
She said, “There’s always going to be rivals, and I think that’s a really positive thing. I think the best thing you can do is let it occur naturally. I think at times, that’s kind of the problem with the WNBA, is the media wants to create something that’s probably not 110% real. And you don’t always see that in men’s sports. That’s what makes sports interesting. That’s why people want to tune in. That’s what keeps people coming back for more.”
She connected her point of view to her backstory.
“I mean, I was taught that I couldn’t breathe in the same air as our rival high school. So, I understand rivalry just as good as anybody. I wasn’t allowed to own anything orange that’s the color of my rival high school. Rivalries just get you up a little extra. And I think that’s a good thing, especially when it’s organic.”
Caitlin makes it clear that organic rivalries are good, fake narratives are not.
“There’s always going to be rivals & that’s a really positive thing. The best thing is let it occur naturally. I think at times the media wants to create narratives that are probably not 110% real.” pic.twitter.com/D6g7KcIJVy
— allison (@_girltalk) May 22, 2026
The clearest test case is Clark and Angel Reese. Their history dates back to the 2023 NCAA title game, when Reese gave Clark the “you can’t see me” gesture after LSU beat Iowa. Every single meeting since then has been framed as personal.
But the actual reality is messier. Clark runs the offense from the perimeter, and Reese works inside as a forward and rebounder.
The two rarely guard each other for longer stretches. In fact, the two have been publicly respectful towards each other and even played together for USA basketball. Yet the negative connotations of their on-court relationship keep growing each year.
Clark’s bigger point was not about opponents like Reese; it was about the coverage they get from the media. The NBA manufactures storylines, too, but WNBA storylines hit differently. They are more focused on the debates about character and sportsmanship. As for the NBA storylines, they’re more akin to trash talk and on-court edge that gets sold as entertainment.
That’s why some WNBA rivalries feel more heated online than NBA rivalries do.
Despite the negativity, Clark tries her best to keep her and her team’s momentum up.
She was seen in strong form, scoring 21 points and 10 assists against Seattle. After a surprise absence on Wednesday due to a sore back, Clark is available to return on Friday.
