Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese disappear at worst possible time for $2bn WNBA with league’s future in balance

They were supposed to be the next Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

Maybe next year for Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, after the most disappointing season in WNBA history.

Of course, there’s a caveat to that.

This was set up to be the most thrilling campaign since the WNBA began, and that can still be the case in 2026.

But Reese is seemingly taking shots at her teammates, while the Chicago Sky sit at 10-30 and will watch the playoffs on television.

Clark has been even more disappointing than her rival.

The biggest name in women’s basketball was limited to just 13 games while posting career lows in average points, rebounds and minutes.

Even worse, Clark shot 36.7 percent from the floor and 27.9 percent on 3-pointers when she was on the court, which doesn’t scream ‘must-watch TV.’

Maybe there was simply too much hype for a WNBA season that has failed to deliver.

Perhaps all Clark needs is a solid reset, full health, and a clean slate heading into her third pro campaign.

Caitlin Clark reveals she won’t return this season

On Thursday, she announced she was done for the season.

“I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season,” Clark posted.

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“I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling.”

She added: “This has been incredibly frustrating, but even in the bad, there is good. The way the fans continued to show up for me, and for the Fever, brought me so much joy and important perspective. I am so proud of how this team has only gotten stronger through adversity this year.”

Angel Reese apologized after calling out Sky teammates

That was a far better approach than Reese, who appeared to call out her teammates while threatening to leave the Sky after just two WNBA seasons.

“I am very vocal about what we need and what I want,” Reese told the Chicago Tribune.

“I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me.“

Reese apologized, but the public message was already delivered.

A second-year player shooting 75 percent from the free-throw line and 18.2 percent on 3-pointers seemed to believe she was better than her surroundings, despite only winning 25 percent of her games this year.

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“Selfish!!! She hasn’t translated to winning one bit since being drafted to Chicago!!!” one fan tweeted.

“Trade her to the worst team in the league,” a second fan posted. “Oh that’s the Sky. Oh, well.”

Clark’s injury obviously is not her fault.

But it’s fair to point out that her numbers were off when she was on the hardwood, and her second season couldn’t touch her inspiring rookie campaign.

Reese excels at self promotion, but the Sky are 23-57 the last two years since drafting her at No. 7, and her next playoff game will be her first.

The NFL — by far the biggest sport in America — just began, MLB is heading into its best months, college football has kicked off, and the NBA will soon hit the hardwood.

The WNBA has gone backward in 2025, leading into an uncertain period of collective bargaining agreement negotiations, while players wore T-Shirts proclaiming “Pay Us What You Owe Us” during an All-Star showcase.

The WNBA isn’t big enough to thrive with Clark off the court and a complaining Reese on one of the league’s worst teams.

Hopefully year three of their rivalry actually has some magic in it.

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