Author: lehang1

Caitlin Clark’s journey from hardwood hero to business visionary is already unfolding.

But like a buzzer-beater stuck on the rim, some plans are still up in the air. While the Denver bid for an NWSL expansion franchise sails through at a record $110 million fee, Clark’s Cincinnati group finds itself at a pivotal crossroads. With dreams as expansive as her three-point range, Clark’s post-basketball plans highlight her ambition to leave a legacy beyond the court.

Denver’s bid, led by IMA Financial Group CEO Robert Cohen, boasts a robust $150 million stadium project and deep-pocketed investors. It’s a tough act to follow for Clark and her Cincinnati team, which relies on the existing TQL Stadium as its main asset. While FC Cincinnati’s group, featuring CC as a key figure, aims to carve out a spot in the league, the Denver bid’s approval shows just how steep the competition has become.

Although she’s just wrapped up her stellar rookie season with the Indiana Fever, Clark is already thinking long-term. Speaking to TIME earlier this year, she shared, “I love basketball, and hopefully, once [playing] basketball ends, I can still find things that I’m really passionate about and can do. I’ll hopefully be an owner of a sports team one day.”

It’s not just talk. Clark’s interest in sports ownership reflects a growing trend among athletes to invest in women’s sports as the market surges. “The price is only going up,” she noted, acknowledging the rising valuations of NWSL teams, with clubs like Angel City FC valued at $250 million.

Her Cincinnati bid is proof she’s not waiting until retirement to dive into the business world. But as Denver locks in its spot with an eye-popping $110 million fee, Clark’s path is anything but a fast break.

A Dream Beyond the Game for Caitlin Clark

Clark’s entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond soccer. On a recent podcast with former Iowa teammates Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall, she shared another dream: owning a restaurant. Laughing, she recalled, “I grew up, and there was always this random open lot, and I always told my mom I was going to open this restaurant called The Rib Shack. Or wait—it was Rib Crib!”

Though a retirement home replaced that childhood dream, Clark hasn’t let go of the idea entirely. “Hopefully, one day, maybe I’ll have a coffee shop or a restaurant, just as a fun thing once I’m done playing,” she said.

The Denver deal sets a new standard for NWSL expansion, with its record-breaking fee and plans for a soccer-specific stadium. The league’s growing value—up 57% from the prior year—signals a promising future. For Clark, it’s both an opportunity and a challenge.

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Her Cincinnati bid represents more than a business venture; it’s a step toward redefining women’s sports ownership. As she navigates this arena, her rookie season lessons—resilience, strategy, and confidence—will undoubtedly come into play.

For now, Caitlin Clark’s retirement plan remains a work in progress. But if her current trajectory is any indication, she’ll be just as dominant off the court as she is on it.

Like many other young athletes from the Midwest, Caitlin Clark grew up in awe of Notre Dame sports.

The WNBA phenom spoke about her experience visiting Notre Dame and consideration of playing for the Fighting Irish during an interview on the “New Heights” podcast on Thursday.

“As a kid, you want to go to Notre Dame,” Clark said. “It’s like the coolest thing in the world, it’s Notre Dame, it has that tradition.”

Clark previously told ESPN that former Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw tried to recruit her and that Clark’s own family also wanted her to play for the fighting Irish.

“My family wanted me to go to Notre Dame,” Caitlin said. “At the end of the day they were like, you make the decision for yourself. But it’s NOTRE DAME! ‘Rudy’ was one of my favorite movies. How could you not pick Notre Dame?”

However, Clark said Thursday that she ultimately made the decision not to play there because of a feeling in her gut.

“I could feel it in my gut, I was like ‘ahh, I’m not supposed to go there,’” Clark said.

Clark’s gut feeling certainly did not steer her in the wrong direction. She ended up committing to her home state university of Iowa instead, where she played her entire four-year college career. Clark broke multiple program and NCAA records for the Hawkeyes, including the all-time leading scoring record among all college basketball players, men or women, in history.

Clark also met her current boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, while at Iowa. McCaffery was a player on Iowa’s men’s basketball team for his father and head coach Fran McCaffery.

Meanwhile, without Clark, Notre Dame fared okay, but not nearly as well as Iowa. Under the leadership of current head coach Niele Ivey, the Fighting Irish made the NCAA tournament three years in a row from 2021-24, but they lost in the regional semifinal all three times, while Clark led much deeper tournament runs in 2023 and 2024.

Clark led Iowa to two straight national championship game appearances, en route to becoming the No. 1 overall selection by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft. McCaffery was already in Indiana working on the Pacers’ coaching staff, and they are still in the city together as he now works on Butler’s men’s basketball coaching staff.

Clark was named WNBA Rookie of the Year, was selected to the All-Star team, led the WNBA in assists, and helped lead the Fever to the playoffs in her rookie season.

Clark was also named Time magazine’s Athlete of the Year for 2024.

WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark recently shared some of her significant experiences in her star-studded career. She opened up on a range of topics while talking to the NFL star Travis Kelce in the latest episode of his podcast. She revealed her most memorable moment with the Iowa Hawkeyes and it’s not what you would think!

During the podcast, when asked about her most memorable Iowa moment, the basketball star excitedly recounted her trip to Croatia. Gleefully, Clark said that during her time at Iowa, she got to visit two European countries, Italy and Croatia. When asked which one would she pick as her favorite, she went with Croatia.

“Every four years in college basketball, you get to take a foreign trip, and you like, go and play some teams overseas,” Clark said.

When she was asked which of those was her favorite, this was her response: “Honestly, Croatia. It’s great,” Clark said and Kelce jumped to agree, both joyfully describing the scenic beauty and the calming natural landscape of one of the most favorite tourist destinations.

Some fans were quick to take to the social media platform X to react to Clark’s comments on Croatia. Fans pointed out that it was no wonder Clark was so close to Croatian basketball point guard Nika Muhl. Both young stars seem to have a really good relationship.

Clark’s Iowa stint is slowly becoming a distant memory

Clark’s appearance on Kelce’s podcast comes right before she is set to receive a great honor. Her college team Iowa Hawkeyes is going to retire her No. 22 jersey on February 2 at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Therefore, fans have been closely watching the episode featuring her, dissecting her comments, and discussing them on social media with so much fervor.

“I’m forever proud to be a Hawkeye, and Iowa holds a special place in my heart that is bigger than just basketball. It means the world to me to receive this honour and to celebrate it with my family, friends and alumni. It will be a great feeling to look up in the rafters and see my jersey alongside those that I’ve admired for so long,” Clark said while expressing her gratitude for the honor she is being bestowed with.

Her experience with the Hawkeyes, apart from giving her memorable moments to cherish, has also helped propel her career. Her time there led her to be drafted No. 1 by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA draft. She eventually achieved the title of Rookie of the Year after an incredible debut season. On top of everything, she became Time Magazine‘s Athlete of the Year in December.

Last year, Caitlin Clark commenced her WNBA career with The Indiana Fever. And now, there is no looking back for the Iowa-born sports sensation.

 

For the first time since its inception, the Unrivaled Basketball League brought together 36 of the biggest stars in women’s basketball under one roof at the stunning new Unrivaled Arena in Miami. This historic gathering marks a turning point for professional women’s basketball, with the league gearing up for its highly anticipated media day on January 17, 2025, airing live on TNT Sports.

Needless to say, Unrivaled is redefining the game, offering WNBA players a lucrative alternative to playing overseas during the offseason. Co-founded by WNBA champions Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, the league’s unique 3-on-3 format and innovative features—like equity ownership for all players and the highest average salaries in women’s sports history—have generated massive excitement.

Adding to the general feeling of enthusiasm is the newly unveiled Unrivaled Arena! A 130,000-square-foot facility, it is equipped with state-of-the-art features, including training facilities, childcare spaces, and a content creation area. Though it seats just 850 spectators, the league’s strategy leans heavily on its media rights deal with TNT Sports to drive revenue.

As for the Miami-based season, it will run for nine weeks, showcasing games played on a compressed full-court (70×50 feet). Furthermore, it will be divided into four seven-minute quarters designed for fast-paced action. Now, you might already know this, but for the uninitiated, the roster includes legends like Brittney Griner and Chelsea Gray, rising stars like Angel Reese, and fresh talent like Rickea Jackson, making it one of the most anticipated launches in basketball history.

Unsurprisingly, the convergence of these stars and the brand-new arena created a wave of eager fans on X. And what did they have to say?

Unrivaled fans can’t contain their excitement!

One fan summed up the collective sentiment with a simple yet enthusiastic tweet. “This is dope,” followed by a pair of fire emojis. The excitement reflects the general awe surrounding the league’s bold vision and the star power it assembled!

Others couldn’t help but marvel at the arena itself, with one fan gushing: “Unrivaled League’s arena looks incredible [emojis] Stewie and Phee did their big one!” The comment highlights the impact of Stewart and Collier’s leadership in creating a space that feels both modern and intimate.

The court design also received its share of love, with a fan proclaiming, “The unrivaled court is so [lit *fire emoji*]”.

Another fan chimed in with a bit of humor, tweeting, “The unrivaled court looks so good,” accompanied by a gif of a rubber duck holding a cigarette, showcasing the lighthearted excitement surrounding the unveiling.

And finally, even the simplest reactions carried weight. Like this fan’s heartfelt heart-on-fire emoji. It speaks volumes about the emotional connection many feel to this groundbreaking league.

As media day approaches, Unrivaled continues to build. From the stunning arena to the star-studded roster, we can’t help but eagerly wait to witness the future of women’s basketball unfold in Miami! Judging by the above reactions, the league has already scored a major win with its debut.

It’s showtime, folks!

*Yeah, we get it. She’s hot. She’s sexy. And she’s only 22. However, WNBA star Angel Reese, recognized for her impressive prowess on the court, has recently made headlines off the hardwood after seemingly deleting her Instagram account.

This move follows intense backlash over her eye-catching outfit at a New Year’s Eve party. The Chicago Sky forward’s Instagram handle, @angelreese5, was unavailable Thursday morning, leaving fans a message indicating that the page may have been removed.

While Reese’s Instagram may be offline, she remains active on other social media platforms like TikTok and X, where she shared a sultry selfie before midnight, showcasing her daring fashion choice.

Reese turned heads in a mocha-colored, animal print gown that featured a stunningly high split and a bold cut-out design, drawing mixed reactions from fans. Some praised her for her beauty and confidence, while others expressed harsh criticism. Responses ranged from admiration, with comments calling her “gorgeous,” to derogatory remarks questioning her intentions behind the outfit choice.

“This is disgusting, I’m sorry,” one critic wrote, echoing sentiments shared by others who interpreted her look as a cry for attention, the Daily Mail reported.

This recent episode is not the first time Reese has faced scrutiny regarding her appearance. Following LSU’s close loss to Iowa during the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament last year, she spoke out about being sexualized and threatened, detailing an emotionally tumultuous period in her life.

“I’ve been attacked so many times. Death threats, I’ve been sexualized… I haven’t been happy since then,” she candidly shared with reporters.

Reese’s journey highlights the ongoing battle female athletes face regarding their rights to express themselves and navigate public perception. Despite her past comments advocating against sexualization, numerous social media users were quick to call out a perceived contradiction following her New Year’s Eve ensemble. Posts flooded in asserting, “Wasn’t she just saying people sexualize her too much?” while others seemingly mocked her stance—“Now don’t anyone dare sexualize her,” they remarked sarcastically.

Adding to her struggles, Reese detailed alarming experiences in which AI-generated explicit images of her were sent to her family by rival fans, further illustrating the troubling dynamics female athletes encounter within the realm of sports culture.

 

Amidst the backlash, it is essential to note that Reese has established herself not only as a formidable competitor, having won the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship with LSU in 2023 and claiming the title of Most Outstanding Player during the tournament, but as a prominent voice in the ongoing conversation surrounding athlete expression and gender equality in sports.

As a rising star in women’s basketball, Reese exemplifies a new generation of athletes who are not only breaking records but challenging societal expectations and advocating for their rights to express their individuality and style.

The intersection of her athletic achievements and her personal struggles paves the way for important discussions on how women, especially in sports, navigate the complexities of public scrutiny and self-expression.

Regardless of the criticism, Angel Reese remains a vital figure in sports, embodying resilience and dedication to the game—two qualities that will undoubtedly continue to inspire many as she forges her path both on and off the court.

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese has been putting in the work to fully recuperate from her wrist injury.

A video of her practicing her jump shot recently made rounds on social media. Aside from her sophomore year in the WNBA, Reese is also preparing for her stint in the inaugural season of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league this January.

With her relentlessness on both ends of the floor and rebounding prowess, some observers believe that Reese will be one of the WNBA’s top players in the years to come.

In fact, Bleacher Report included the 22-year-old Reese in its list of “25 Best Athletes of the Next 25 Years,” placing her at No. 23.

“Her talent is undeniable, and her media-fueled rivalry with (Caitlin) Clark has helped make her one of the most recognizable athletes in her sport,” read the feature.

Clark, the Indiana Fever star, was No. 2 on the list, which was topped by San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.

Fans on X, however, blasted the list because Reese was ranked one place higher than Boston Celtics star and NBA champion Jayson Tatum.

“The most disrespectful thing I’ve ever seen,” said a Celtics fan.

“This is the most rage bait list I’ve seen in a minute,” echoed another fan.

“LMAOOOOOO THIS IS WILD,” commented an X user.

“Let them hate, let them underate us,” added a Celtics supporter.

“Even the Tatum haters can agree this is crazyyyy,” wrote a fan.

Despite being listed below Reese, the feature had a glowing review of the 26-year-old Tatum.

“His time will come to be one of the faces of the sport, as the torch gets passed by LeBron James, Steph Curry and others,” wrote Bleacher Report.

Tatum is also a four-time All-NBA Team member, five-time All-Star, All-Star Game MVP and two-time Olympic gold medalist.

Angel Reese has decided to take a break from Instagram following backlash from her New Year’s Eve outfit. The Chicago Sky rookie recently posted a revealing outfit on the app to show her sexy outfit leading into the new year.
The cutout dress is still up on her TikTok account, where she shared short mirror videos of her modeling the dress.
“D*mn that girl wants so much attention. It’s not funny no more. Is she working on her game to be a better basketball player? That’s the real question,” one social media user posted about Reese.

Another social media user criticized Reese’s revealing outfit after Shaquille O’Neal suggested that WNBA players should wear shorter shorts to get more views.

“Let me sexualize myself then complain that people are sexualizing me,” the user wrote. “She scoffed at the idea of wearing booty shorts while playing basketball but then presents herself as a sexual object on a regular basis. Only dudes that are interested in this type of women are men who just wanna f*ck.”

While Reese has not directly responded to the backlash, she did repost a recent tweet from Grammy-winning singer SZA about living your life the way you want.

“YOUR LIFE IS YOURS !!!YOURSSS!!!” SZA wrote on X. “Not anybody else’s!! Not the ones disappointed not the ones talking shit not the ones that never sent an apology not the ones snickering or judging not the ones w stake in the game . THE COFFIN ONLY HAS ROOM FOR ONE. YOU . Live . F*ck it”

Angel Reese seemingly responds to “Club 520” podcast comments

The deactivation of her Instagram follows the sexist comments made about Reese and the WNBA over the weekend on the “Club 520″ podcast. Social media personality Charleston White was a guest on Jeff Teague’s podcast where he said “I think Angel Reese wanna sell p***y.”

White added that she should “do OnlyFans” and “dunk in some panties.”

In response to the sexist comments White made on the “Club 520″ podcast, Reese reposted her own tweet which read, “Protect young women in sports.”

Teague responded to the backlash as well.

“We had great times with Angel Reese,” Teague said in the next episode. “She’s cool people. We don’t even look at her like that. We see her as a little sister, a little homie.” He added that because the show was live, there was no control over the editing process and if it hadn’t been live it would have never been aired due to the nature of White’s comments.

“We have nothing but love for Angel Reese,” he continued. “She’s a phenomenal player and an even better person.”

Autumn Hawkins is an entertainment and celebrity associate editor for ClutchPoints. She previously covered entertainment news for Compulsive Magazine and OK Magazine. Autumn resides in New Jersey after getting her degree from Johnson &amp; Wales University.

Angel Reese apparently deactivated her Instagram account, but the clip in her dress is still on TikTok

WOMEN’S basketball star Angel Reese turned heads with her New Year’s Eve outfit.

And then she apparently turned her Instagram account off straight after.

Reese, 22, shocked fans with her incredibly revealing outfit.

The basketball superstar had almost her entire front section bare in the dress.

But her Instagram account seemingly didn’t make it into 2025.

Reese’s account with five million followers is currently inactive.

But she did share some clips of her in the dress for her TikTok fans.

And her followers claimed she was a winner off the court and might attract some new basketball fans.

“Slowly becoming a fan,” one said.

“Might get more people interested in the WNBA,” another posted.

“You look so beautiful,” a third commented.

“Celebrity, model and real Angel,” said another social media fan.

Reese has been a big part of women’s basketball’s boom in the past 12 months.

She had a rivalry with Caitlin Clark in college.

Reese played for LSU while Clark led the Iowa team, and their clashes were highly-anticipated.

They were both drafted into the WNBA in 2024 and continued where they left off.

Clark was the No. 1 overall pick for the Indiana Fever while Reese went seventh to Chicago Sky.

Reese’s season was cut short due to injury while Clark was Rookie of the Year.

They have both built up huge fan bases on and off the court.

Reese is signed up to the 3×3 Unrivaled league beginning January 17 while Clark opted to skip it despite lucrative offers.

The WNBA season begins on May 16, 2025.

Reese and Clark will go head-to-head on the opening weekend when the Chicago Sky face the Indiana Fever.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark’s appearance in Thursday’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast triggered a key question about the Kansas City Chiefs.

WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark wants the world to know that she’s a “ride-or-die” fan of the Kansas City Chiefs from way back. And so it made sense that during her high-profile appearance on this week’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast co-hosted by Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, the subject of her favorite KC player of all time would be broached.

And of course, because Travis was sitting right there …

Swift shared many of her experiences attending Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” concert – a fitting issue as Swift is the girlfriend of Kelce – and Clark also discussed her Chiefs fandom with the Kelce brothers Travis and Jason.

“I had family in Kansas City, and I grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, which is only three hours from Kansas City,” Clark said of her deep non-“bandwagon” devotion to the team. “So, that’s just the closest NFL team. My dad was a big Chiefs fan growing up.

“People think I’m a bandwagon Chiefs fan. I was like, ‘No, I was there before Patrick and Travis.’”

And then came the arguable highlight of the conversation, as Clark was asked about her current favorite Chiefs player. With no hesitatation,  she ended up naming Travis Kelce … which he founf to be flattering.

“Yeah!” he shouted with a celebratory fist pump.

Caitlin Clark did say that she’s also a huge fan of QB Patrick Mahomes, which in the end makes Clark likes the rest of Chiefs fans – and like Swift, too.

Travis Kelce and Mahomes and a path to a third straight Super Bowl? What’s not to love?

Shaquille O’Neal got right to the point when discussing Caitlin Clark winning Time Athlete of the Year for 2024.

Jun 6, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Shaquille O’Neal looks on before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks in game one of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images

Back in September, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal admitted that he had a change of heart regarding Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

“(Clark) does everything right,” Shaq said in the interview. “I never spoke about her (before) because Angel (Reese) is my girl but I can truthfully say — Caitlin Clark is for real. I’m watching her play and I’m trying to be upset but she makes the right pass, makes the right play. Girls try to beat her up and she doesn’t really complain. She’s a great one, even early on (in her career).

“She’s the real deal,” Shaq added of Clark. “Much respect to her and her family and the way she grew up and the way she plays. All little girls should watch all the WNBA players play but those two (Clark and Reese) are my favorite.”

It was really cool to hear Shaq give Clark her flowers, despite his affiliation with Reese.

Since then, Clark has added multiple impressive records and accolades to her resumé; perhaps the most notable being her winning Time Athlete of the Year for 2024.

Shaq conducted an interview with TMZ Live that appeared to be recorded back in December but was released on January 1. And when the topic of Clark winning this Time honor was brought up, Shaq had only seven words to express his opinion.

“Congratulations to her. She’s a fabulous player,” Shaq said.

He kept it brief when discussing Clark’s Time win, but went on to discuss other WNBA matters. “Caitlin, my girl Angel [Reese], definitely brought a lot of publicity to the WNBA. But we can’t forget about all the other WNBA greats. A’ja [Wilson], Sabrina [Ionescu], Diana [Taurasi], all the women that’s playing great,” he said.

“They’re finally getting the credit that they deserve. They play much harder than the men, they play better than the men. That’s a beautiful game to watch,” Shaq added.

Props to Shaq for showing love to the WNBA — despite his opinions on the polarizing ways he thinks it can improve.