Lisa Leslie
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The entire Angel Reese vs Caitlin Clark debate has not just taken the WNBA by storm, but it has also been one of the major talking points around the entire sports world.

This rivalry dates back to when Reese was starring at LSU as Clark was breaking records with her former Iowa Hawkeyes team.

It has now extended to the professional ranks after each found themselves as top-six picks in the 2024 WNBA Draft, with Clark going No. 1 to the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky selecting Reese sixth overall.

It continued early in the WNBA season when Reese’s teammate, Chennedy Carter, committed a hard foul on Clark. This led to a ton of debate about Clark’s treatment by other WNBA players. Talking heads, the media, players and partisans all chimed in.

This has impacted the overall brand of what has been a growing WNBA entity. It’s a turn-off for many to see drama like this unfold among professionals. And in reality, it has been stoked by the reality of American society today — division.

We now might have someone chiming in who can provide context while being level-headed about everything. Imagine that.

Related: Angel Reese Accuses Media Of Trying To Twist Her Words

Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie Gives Her Take On Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese

Lisa Leslie talks Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Leslie played 13 seasons in the WNBA, from 1997-2009. She earned three MVP awards, made eight All-Star teams, won two titles and helped lead the U.S. Women’s National Team to four consecutive Olympic Gold Medals. When she talks, we should listen.

“We know that Caitlin Clark is here in the WNBA, and that’s been a big change and I love the fact that her impact is something we can really tangibly see. We’re talking about teams changing arenas, getting into larger spaces for their fans, which I think is outstanding.”

Lisa Leslie, via Las Vegas Aces on YouTube

Thank you!

Clark’s impact on the brand can’t be denied. It’s in the numbers. Who are we to argue with actual tangible numbers?

It was last weekend that Indiana and Chicago took on one another Sunday afternoon on CBS. The game pitting Clark vs Reese drew the largest WNBA TV ratings (2.25 million on average) since Memorial Day of 2001.

Five of the most-watched WNBA games this season have included Caitlin Clark and the Fever. Of the seven that have drawn over one million viewers, six have included Indiana. That’s an impact.

Related: Updated WNBA TV Ratings

No, It’s Not All Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Leslie also echoed Reese’ point that it’s not one person who has helped grow the brand. Her own success in the WNBA was overshadowed by a lack of national popularity. Women’s basketball wasn’t of much interest from a broader standpoint until the Olympics rolled around every four years. But her generation set the tone for those who came after.

“It’s not that the game and the product wasn’t there; we know from even before I played, when you go way back and you look at Ann Meyers and all of the women that came before us, Cheryl Miller,” Leslie said.

“They didn’t have these same opportunities, but their level and their play, if you move those players into this time, they would still have been outstanding women and just some of the best players in the world. So I’m excited to see that fans, new fans, men and women, girl dads, young girls and boys, are having a chance to really celebrate the WNBA.”

Take it from someone who has had the pleasure of going to several Las Vegas Aces games over the past couple seasons. Sure, they are the two-time defeding WNBA champs. Sure, they play in Mandalay Bay.

But the experience is something that I did not expect. Girl dads taking their daughters. Mothers with their sons. All enjoying women play professional basketball at a high level and in front of a packed arena. This was before Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese made their way to the WNBA.

It has been a growing entity with a better product over the past several years. To suggest otherwise is to disrespect those like Leslie who laid the foundation.

Read More: Tennis Icon Serena Williams Praises Caitlin Clark, Defends Her from Her Haters

Editor at TPD. Contributor at Forbes. Previous: Bleacher Report, Yahoo!, SB Nation. Heard on ESPN Radio and NBC Sports ... More about Vincent Frank

More about: