SHOCKING: Jemele Hill Calls Angel Reese the “Michael Jordan of the WNBA” — Says She’s Already Better Than Caitlin Clark!

The 2025 WNBA season is shaping up to be one of the most electrifying in recent history—not only because of the incredible talent on the court but also due to the intense narratives emerging off the hardwood. From packed arenas to record-breaking TV ratings, women’s basketball is finally receiving its long-overdue moment in the spotlight. Yet beneath this excitement lies a cultural storm swirling around two of the league’s brightest stars: Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

These two phenoms have been at the center of a fierce debate that goes far beyond basketball. Every play, every exchange, and every headline involving them is dissected with an intensity that exposes deeper issues of race, gender, and media framing in sports.

The Rivalry the Media Wanted

The origins of this controversy can be traced back to the 2023 NCAA Championship game, where Clark, the sharpshooting white Iowa star, faced off against Reese, the physically dominant and outspoken LSU champion. Their contrasting styles, personalities, and even their postgame gestures ignited social media firestorms. Reese was quickly labeled “classless” while Clark earned praise as the “fiery competitor.”

This simplistic narrative cast Reese as the villain and Clark as the golden girl—an archetype that feeds into tired, divisive tropes about Black and white athletes.

More Than Just a Game

But the reality is far more complex. Both Reese and Clark are extraordinary athletes fiercely competing at the highest level of their sport. The intensity, the trash talk, the physicality—these are all part of the game and have been for decades in women’s basketball.

Why then do we struggle to accept them simply as athletes? Why do these two young women become symbols in a broader cultural debate?

Jemele Hill’s Bold Take

Jemele Hill, renowned sports journalist and cultural commentator, recently addressed this issue on her podcast, Spolitics. Hill criticized how the media personalizes professional competition, turning what should be an athletic rivalry into a racial and cultural battleground.

Referring to a viral comment by former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, who suggested Reese “hates” Clark, Hill said, “That’s not a basketball take. It’s a projection of something deeper, something personal and unverified.”

Hill went even further by boldly dubbing Angel Reese the “Michael Jordan of the WNBA,” praising her talent, tenacity, and impact on the game. “Angel is already better than Caitlin,” Hill asserted, “and it’s about time we start recognizing her greatness without the unnecessary drama.”

What This Means for the WNBA

The fierce media-driven rivalry may sell headlines, but it also risks overshadowing the incredible progress women’s basketball is making. As the WNBA enjoys unprecedented attention and fan support, it’s crucial to focus on what truly matters: the athletes and the game itself.

Both Reese and Clark represent a new generation of talent and toughness that should be celebrated rather than scrutinized through the lens of racial or gendered stereotypes.

The Bigger Picture

This debate is a reminder of how sports can reflect larger societal issues. How we choose to tell stories about athletes—especially women of color—matters. It shapes perceptions and can either empower or unfairly pigeonhole them.

Jemele Hill’s commentary pushes us to rethink the narratives we accept and challenges us to appreciate Angel Reese for who she is: a groundbreaking athlete who is reshaping the future of the WNBA on her own terms.