Sue Bird Addresses WNBA Drama Amid Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Rivalry

"The biggest problem is people not understanding that our league — the WNBA — is physical and competitive, just like men's sports have been for years. This is not new." Bird said.

Bird’s voice carries weight. After a standout college career at UConn from 1998 to 2002, she was selected first overall in the 2002 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm, the team she played for her entire career.

Her resume includes four WNBA championships, 13 All-Star selections and five First-Team All-WNBA honors.

Much of the current rivalry buzz surrounds Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky and Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever. 

Their on-court tension dates back to college, when Reese’s LSU Tigers faced Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA Tournament championship game. That competitive spirit has carried over into the WNBA, with both now starring for Midwest franchises.

The two teams have faced off once this season, with Clark and the Fever cruising to a 93-58 win. Clark led all scorers with 20 points, while Reese posted 12 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. 

The game wasn’t without drama; Clark was assessed a flagrant 1 foul on Reese in the third quarter. That sparked plenty of media debate.

The Sky and Fever are set to meet again on June 7, though Clark is expected to miss the game due to injury. She hopes to be back well before the two teams meet for a third time this season on July 27.