In recent weeks, a new chapter of the women’s basketball landscape has unfolded, revealing stark contrasts in popularity and viewership between some of the sport’s biggest stars. With the release of week 2 ratings for the new Unrivaled League, it’s become increasingly clear that the league is struggling to hold viewers’ attention, especially without the spotlight of Caitlin Clark. While Caitlin Clark continues to shine on the basketball court, making moves that leave a lasting impact on the game, Angel Reese and her Unrivaled League are facing significant challenges in proving their value in the world of women’s basketball.

Unrivaled League’s Struggling Viewership

The Unrivaled League, a new and ambitious project aimed at revolutionizing women’s basketball, promised to be a game-changer. With high expectations, big-name investors, and flashy promotions, it looked like this league could be the future of the sport. However, just two weeks in, the league’s viewership numbers have proven that reality is much harsher than anticipated.

The ratings from week 2 of the Unrivaled League are nothing short of disappointing. Monday night’s average viewership was 166,000, and Saturday’s dropped significantly to 98,000. Some games barely cracked 75,000 viewers—a far cry from the millions the league had hoped to attract. In fact, when Angel Reese faced off against D. Carrington in a much-hyped matchup, the viewership barely broke 75,000. These numbers highlight a glaring issue: fans simply aren’t tuning in, and without Caitlin Clark, the league seems unable to hold anyone’s attention.

The Caitlin Clark Effect

While the Unrivaled League flounders, Caitlin Clark continues to dominate the conversation in women’s basketball. Clark has become one of the most recognizable figures in the sport, transcending gender and positioning herself as a star in her own right. The viewership numbers in her games speak for themselves—Clark’s WNBA games routinely shatter records, pulling in millions of viewers each time she steps onto the court. Even ESPN, a network not traditionally focused on basketball, saw over a million viewers when Clark played.

In contrast, without Clark, even top players like Angel Reese are struggling to draw an audience. It’s become painfully clear that, despite Reese’s high-profile social media presence and self-promotion, her ability to captivate the masses is limited. Fans are tuning in for Caitlin Clark—not Reese—and that’s a hard truth that’s been exposed by the numbers. The latest viewership stats of the Unrivaled League underscore just how reliant the sport is on Clark’s star power.

The Growing Divide: Caitlin Clark’s NBA All-Star Snub

Adding to the growing narrative of Clark’s dominance in the women’s basketball scene is her recent decision to turn down an invitation to participate in the NBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Contest. The speculated matchup between Clark and NBA stars like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson seemed like a dream scenario for many, with a potential historic crossover event that could boost the profile of women’s basketball even further. Yet, Clark made the decision to decline the invitation.

While many initially saw this as a missed opportunity, upon closer inspection, this was a genius move by Clark. Her reasoning for rejecting the contest was simple: the format of the NBA’s Three-Point Contest didn’t fit her style of play. Clark’s training regimen focuses on catch-and-shoot threes and off-the-dribble shots, which are not the focus of the NBA’s contest. For someone with Clark’s level of competitiveness, entering an event without being fully prepared to win was never an option. This decision proves Clark’s commitment to her craft and her desire to dominate on her own terms.

Rather than participating in a gimmicky event for the NBA’s benefit, Clark is keeping her eyes on the prize: dominating the WNBA and building her legacy there. The alternative? Clark’s first Three-Point Contest appearance could now take place at the WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, where the focus will remain on elevating women’s basketball rather than stealing attention from it.

Angel Reese: The Unrivaled League’s Struggling Star

While Caitlin Clark is setting records and making headlines, Angel Reese, the star of the Unrivaled League, is finding it increasingly difficult to live up to her self-proclaimed role as the face of women’s basketball. Reese has marketed herself as a major draw for the sport, even claiming that fans are tuning in specifically to watch her. Yet the numbers tell a different story. With some Unrivaled games barely cracking 75,000 viewers, it’s clear that Reese’s influence is not as strong as she—or the league—had hoped.

Beyond the lackluster ratings, Reese’s on-court performances have also drawn criticism. Viral clips from recent Unrivaled League games show her missing easy layups, airballing open three-pointers, and failing to live up to the expectations set for her. With her social media presence dominating her public image, Reese has failed to deliver on the court in a way that translates into viewership or credibility in the basketball world. Fans are calling her out, and some have even suggested that Reese is more of an Instagram model than a legitimate basketball player.

Caitlin Clark: The Future of Women’s Basketball

Caitlin Clark’s decision to decline the NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest not only solidifies her status as a top competitor but also highlights a larger trend: Clark is focusing on building her legacy in the WNBA, the league that actually needs her presence to grow. While Reese and the Unrivaled League struggle to capture viewers’ attention, Clark continues to dominate in her own lane, focusing on her game and the growth of the sport for women.

Clark’s strategic decisions show that she’s more than just a player—she’s an agent of change in women’s basketball. By rejecting the NBA contest, Clark is ensuring that all eyes stay on the WNBA, not just on her in an NBA setting. Her legacy is being built on her terms, and her influence is undeniable. As for Reese, her time to shine may be over before it even started, as the world comes to realize that Clark is the true face of women’s basketball.

The future is clear: Caitlin Clark is the star of women’s basketball, and no matter how hard Angel Reese tries to make her presence felt, she can never truly fill Clark’s shoes.