Following the contentious exclusion of Chicago Sky’s new forward Angel Reese from the Team USA lineup for the Paris Olympics, she is now tired of the ongoing controversies and would rather divert the attention back to Team USA, the gold medalists.
A recent post on ESPN’s Sunday morning mentioned, “The U.S. women’s narrow 67-66 victory against France is still fresh. However, who will represent Team USA in the 2028 Olympics? Could it be Caitlin Clark? Angel Reese? Paige Bueckers? JuJu Watkins?”
This update followed the intense 67-66 triumph of Team USA over the host country, achieved without the participation of either Reese or her fellow rookie competitor, the Indiana Fever standout Caitlin Clark.
Angel Reese’s focus was on Team USA, not on herself
X (formerly Twitter) received Reese’s response expressing her frustration about being dragged back into the limelight. Angel Reese stated, “Let’s extend our congratulations to these remarkable women and allow them to revel in this moment! Keep me away from this until the right time arrives! 😇”
Earlier this year, WNBA rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese were omitted from the 2024 women’s roster by USA Basketball, a move that drew widespread criticism. Many argued that it was a missed chance to boost the global standing of women’s basketball.
With the conclusion of the Paris Olympics, all focus will now shift towards Los Angeles 2028, where Team USA, comprising two outstanding stars, will strive for their ninth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
The former NCAA basketball standouts, now professional rivals in the WNBA, have long been seen as pioneers for women’s basketball—and women’s athletics in general—prior to their controversial exclusions from the Women’s U.S. Olympic squad.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese making waves in the WNBA
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have displayed exceptional talent early in their careers and have played vital roles in rejuvenating the WNBA in 2024. The league has observed record-breaking viewership numbers, a surge in merchandise sales, and increased attendance at games.
This rise in popularity has led to several benefits, as the league recently sealed a new media rights contract worth about $2.2 billion spread over 11 years, according to The Athletic.
This totals to roughly $200 million annually, approximately four times the combined value of the WNBA’s current media deals with Disney, Ion, CBS, and Amazon, currently valued at $50 million per year.
The ‘Caitlin Clark effect’ quickly emerged as a significant economic driver, with her Indiana jersey flying off the shelves, Fever home games becoming highly sought after, and WNBA television viewership skyrocketing.
Unprecedented achievements for the WNBA
This WNBA season has witnessed numerous historic milestones, including a notable statistic from the previous month: over 400,000 fans attended games in May, marking the highest attendance in 26 years.
The number of sold-out games in May surged by 156% compared to 2023, with arena capacities across the WNBA nearing nearly 95%.
Reese and Clark, the two rookie sensations, clashed against each other thrice this season, leading to a tripling of ticket prices for these matchups compared to the usual WNBA game averages.
Clark and Reese momentarily set aside their rivalry to team up for Team WNBA in the league’s All-Star Game against the U.S. women’s national team in July.
Clark and Reese at LA2028
The inclusion of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese in the All-Star team was noteworthy as it marked only the eighth instance of two newcomers being selected for the exhibition. They achieved what other teams like France, Australia, and Nigeria couldn’t during the Olympics by defeating the current Team USA roster, featuring Diana Taurasi, A’ja Wilson, and Breanna Stewart, with a score of 117-109.
In the next four years, experience will hold less significance. By the time the Los Angeles Summer Games kick off in 2028, Clark and Reese will be 26 and 28, respectively. They could each boast multiple WNBA championships and MVPs at that point, hitting their prime.
Unless they encounter injuries or a significant performance decline, Clark and Reese are likely locks for LA2028. They will represent the host nation when the Games make their return to the United States for the first time since Atlanta in 1996.
Image Source: Angel Reese @ Instagram
