Angel Reese’s recent comments about dethroning Caitlyn Clark have sparked a wave of controversy and criticism. While Reese, who gained fame at LSU, is undeniably a talented player, her assertion that she can surpass Clark in the world of women’s basketball appears, to many, as overly ambitious and misguided. The fact that Reese believes she could take over from someone as accomplished as Clark—who continues to rewrite the record books with every season—is, for some, a statement that lacks the weight of reality.

First and foremost, Caitlyn Clark’s achievements speak for themselves. Clark has been nothing short of revolutionary in women’s college basketball, with her ability to score, make plays, and create history. Her statistics alone are staggering, as she lights up the court season after season. Meanwhile, Reese’s journey, though impressive, has yet to match Clark’s level of dominance. In fact, Reese’s performance during her WNBA debut left much to be desired. While Clark quickly made a name for herself in the league with an average of 19.2 points per game and 8.4 assists, Reese managed just 13.6 points per game—almost six points fewer than Clark.

Reese’s recent focus on training with LeBron James’ renowned trainer, David Alexander, has led her to believe that she can make a giant leap and dethrone Clark. However, while Reese is working on perfecting her movement patterns, Clark continues to hone the very skills that make her one of the best in the game: shooting, playmaking, and consistency. It’s clear that, despite her training, Reese still has a long way to go to catch up to Clark’s level of skill and experience.

Reese’s claim that she will dethrone Clark is further complicated by her off-the-court activities. Rather than focusing solely on basketball, Reese has been heavily involved in social media and lifestyle branding, such as signing a deal with Reebok. While it’s great to secure these opportunities, they don’t directly translate to on-court success. Clark, in contrast, stays laser-focused on her game, improving her skills while avoiding distractions. The difference in mentality is striking: one player is all about work and performance, while the other seems more invested in external validation.

The 2023 NCAA Championship brought the two players into the spotlight, with Reese attempting to steal Clark’s glory during a heated moment. Her now-infamous hand gesture, meant to taunt Clark, was criticized as a desperate attempt for attention. While Reese was busy drawing attention to herself, Clark effortlessly outperformed everyone on the court, including Reese. It was a stark reminder that in basketball, actions speak louder than words.

Despite these differences, Reese seems determined to prove herself in the upcoming 3×3 league, a new league featuring top players from around the world. While it’s true that Reese will be earning a significantly higher salary than she did in the WNBA, entering this league may prove to be a reality check for her. The competition will be fierce, and the league could expose the gaps in Reese’s game that many critics are already pointing out. If Reese is not careful, this new stage could magnify the distance between her and Clark, who is already established as one of the best in the world.

Reese’s claim to dethrone Clark ultimately feels like a case of overconfidence without the necessary skill to back it up. While Reese may have her sights set on the top, her current level of performance doesn’t come close to matching the greatness of Caitlyn Clark. In a sport where hard work and raw talent are the true measures of success, Reese’s boasting may be falling short. At the end of the day, Clark’s legacy is already cemented, and Reese, for all her potential, still has much to prove before she can seriously challenge for that throne.

In the world of professional basketball, words are easy, but actions are what define the greatest players. For now, it seems that Angel Reese’s best move might be to focus less on talking about dethroning legends and more on actually developing the skills that will allow her to compete at the highest level. If she doesn’t, she risks being left in the dust as Clark continues to dominate the game.