MVP Race Heats Up As Angel Reese Refuses to Let Caitlin Clark Run Away With the Crown

Both Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are strong frontrunners in the MVP race.

MVP Race Heats Up As Angel Reese Refuses to Let Caitlin Clark Run Away With the Crown

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark (Image via Bet 105/Polymarket Hoops/X)

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are two of the biggest names in the WNBA today. Both players were drafted in the same draft class in 2024, as Clark was picked by the Indiana Fever as the number one pick, while Reese was drafted by the Chicago Sky as the seventh pick.

Since then, both players were named All-Stars in their rookie season and have taken the league by storm with their performances. Their respective teams are strong contenders to compete for a championship this year.

Both stars are coming off a successful FIBA World Cup campaign. It was their first World Cup, and they helped Team USA win the gold medal for the fifth consecutive time. While they came off the bench in all six Team USA games, they played vital roles in leading the second unit during the tournament.

Both Clark and Reese are having their best individual campaigns in their third season. Reese was traded to the Atlanta Dream this year and has been an unstoppable force in recent weeks.

After impressing in the World Cup, both stars have picked up from where they left off in the WNBA. Over the last two games, Reese is averaging 26.5 points, 10 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 blocks. The Dream have booked their spot in the playoffs and are currently placed fourth in the standings.

Meanwhile, Clark is coming off an impressive showing on Friday night despite getting her seventh technical foul of the season. The Fever sit just one spot behind the Dream in the standings. They are currently on a three-match winning streak, and during this period, Clark is averaging 33 points, 4.7 rebounds and 12 assists.

With less than a week to go in the regular season, both players and their teams will hope to keep up their fine form heading into the postseason. A’ja Wilson is currently at the top of the MVP race, but the two young stars will be hoping to make a late push in the coming week.

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Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese heat up the MVP race

Angel Reese has undoubtedly been a rebounding machine in the WNBA. She has broken multiple records ever since she stepped foot into the WNBA and has broken a few this year as well. She broke the record for most double-doubles in a single season and recorded her 31st on Saturday night against the Chicago Sky.

Angel Reese & Caitlin Clark set WNBA record
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark (Image via Legion Hoops/X)

Reese has been on the receiving end of criticism for a while now, but she has responded to them with her performances this year. She is currently averaging a career-high 16.5 points and 12.4 rebounds in 40 appearances and is one of the frontrunners for Defensive Player of the Year. Her recent performances have put her in the MVP race as well.

Meanwhile, Clark has broken a few records this year, including becoming the first player to record her 10th 25+ points and 10+ assists in a game. Alongside Kelsey Mitchell, the Fever boast arguably the greatest backcourt duo in WNBA history. Some have even suggested that both teammates deserve to share the MVP award for their performances.

It is hard to argue against Clark being the best player in the league over the last few months. She has made 37 appearances this season and is averaging a career-high 22.6 points and 8.5 assists. It will be interesting to see if Clark and Reese will be able to make a late push to dethrone Wilson from the MVP race.

Angel Reese on her rivalry with Caitlin Clark

Ever since Caitlin Clark was drafted into the WNBA, the popularity of the league has skyrocketed. She entered the league with a lot of hype and expectations. Meanwhile, Reese wasn’t viewed the same way as Clark, but she has worked her way to the top through impressive performances and bold confidence.

The WNBA and the media have often pitted the two against each other. While they maintain a good friendship off the court, the rivalry has been there for everyone to see.

When asked about her rivalry with Clark, Reese spoke about the healthy competition between them.

Yeah, I think it’s just competition. It’s been competition since college. I’ve been playing against Caitlin since we were probably in eighth or ninth grade. So people don’t know the legacy of us being able to play against each other for a really long time. I don’t have any hard feelings toward her. She doesn’t have any hard feelings toward me, but it gets crazy sometimes.

Angel Reese on Complex

With both stars still young and in the prime of their careers, WNBA fans will hope to see them dominate in the coming years. The two may face off against each other in the playoffs this year. But at the end of the day, the rivalry is strictly between the lines, Reese said.

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