Jayson Tatum’s girlfriend Ella Mai shares adorable never-seen-before childhood picture

 

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum’s girlfriend, Ella Mai, took to Instagram to share an adorable image of her on Saturday. The Grammy Award-winning R&B singer posted her never-seen-before childhood picture on a black rocking horse. The picture was from a time when the artist still lived in the UK.

Ella Mai’s recent story

The 30-year-old was born in London to a Jamaican mother and an English father. She grew up in the United Kingdom till the age of 12. In 2006, the former “Arize” member relocated to New York City with her mother, a teacher. The transfer from London to New York was not smooth, as Mai was bullied for her accent when she initially moved.

Ella completed her education graduating from Queens High School of Teaching in Glen Oaks, Queens. Ella returned to London when she was 17. She joined the British and Irish Modern Music Institute starting her music journey.

After years of hard work and failed attempts like the time, she competed on the X Factor. Ella Mai finally found her breakthrough in 2018 as her tracks “Boo’d Up” and “Trip” found global acclaim.

Jayson Tatum and Ella Mai’s matching tattoos

Jayson Tatum and Ella Mai have become one of the NBA’s power couples as the Boston Celtics star and the English artist continue to rise in their respective fields.

Fans have noticed a simple yet meaningful gesture from both stars to signify their bond. The Boston Celtics star and Ella share a matching tattoo.

Both Jayson and Mai have multiple tattoos on them. A fan posted an image where the couple inked “3” in the same font behind their left ears.

Jayson Tatum and Ella Mai reportedly started seeing each other in 2020. Their relationship was confirmed following their first public appearance together in July 2022, Michael Rubin’s annual Fourth of July White Party. The couple welcomed their first child in June.

Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla’s surprising reaction to tough upcoming schedule

The Celtics’ schedule isn’t getting any easier, but Joe Mazzulla doesn’t seem to mind.

BOSTON — After falling to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night, 123-114, the Boston Celtics are 2-4 in their last six games. Despite these recent struggles, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is looking forward to his team’s schedule becoming even harder in the coming days.

Following the nine-point loss, which is tied for Boston’s largest margin of defeat this season, Mazzulla was asked how his guys are planning on handling an upcoming road trip featuring four games in six days.

Joe Mazzulla on the Celtics’ tough schedule in the coming weeks: “I’m actually really excited about it. It’s gonna be great.”

Although that answer might seem surprising given Boston’s troubles this December, it’s on brand for Mazzulla. The New England native has never backed down from a challenge and he doesn’t expect his players to either.

What does the Celtics’ upcoming schedule look like?

David Butler II-Imagn Images
On Tuesday afternoon, the 23-9 C’s will have an opportunity to bounce back at home against the Toronto Raptors, who are currently on a 10-game losing streak. Once that New Year’s Eve showdown ends, the Green Team will head west to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves on Thursday night. Next, the Celtics go down to Texas on Friday to face the 21-10 Houston Rockets.

Things only get more difficult on Sunday afternoon, as the C’s take on the talented Oklahoma City Thunder (who are 13-2 at home). To close out the road trip, the Celtics travel west again to meet the Denver Nuggets late next Tuesday. The 2023 NBA champions haven’t lost to the Celtics in the regular season since November of 2022.

While this Western Conference gauntlet is daunting and full of playoff teams, Mazzulla is confident in his squad. Celtics guard Derrick White didn’t discuss any of these games, but he did emphasize how much the players believe in one another.

“Just trust the character in the locker room or the type of guys that are in that locker room,” White responded when questioned about his confidence in his teammates. “And those the type of guys I want to go to war with. So I’m confident in that.”

Boston didn’t lose three games in a row for the entirety of 2024, so faltering in four of its last six contests is uncommon. It’s especially unusual for White, who’s made two trips to the NBA Finals since joining the C’s in 2022.

“There’s ups and downs through every season, so we’re in those downs and just got to figure it out together,” he said.

The Celtics had the chance to avoid talks of a slump on Sunday because they nearly stormed back to defeat the Pacers. However, cutting Indiana’s lead down to five with 8:23 remaining in the fourth quarter was as good as it got for Boston down the stretch. Indy had an answer for every push and Boston struggled to hit the shots it needed, making just one of its final 12 attempts from deep.

The Pacers handle the Celtics with care for the win 💪 Tyrese Haliburton: 31 points on 11-of-19 FG 6 rebounds 7 assists Pascal Siakam: 17 points on 6-of-11 FG 8 rebounds 6 assists 3 steals

“Winning in the NBA is hard,” Celtics star Jayson Tatum admitted. “We gotta understand that. We know that.”

Tatum, White, and reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown combined for 70 points and 15 of the Celtics’ 26 assists. It wasn’t enough though, and Tatum knows it.

“Everybody is confident in our ability and what we can be as a team. We just gotta do it,” he stated. “It hasn’t been the best stretch for us. But that’s okay. Nobody’s panicking or anything like that, but just gotta be better.”

Jaylen Brown identifies issue slowing down Celtics

Jaylen Brown knows what needs to be fixed moving forward

As far as Eastern Conference contenders go, the Boston Celtics shouldn’t be struggling. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown still lead the way. The supporting cast remains intact. And on the sidelines, Joe Mazulla continues to utilize the playbook that granted them a championship. The thing is, they’re in a slump.

Through their last six games, the second-seeded Celtics are 2-4, and all the while, the Cleveland Cavaliers are slowly breaking away while the New York Knicks are on the verge of catching up. Boston’s latest outing occurred on Sunday — a 123-114 defeat at the hands of the Indiana Pacers. Behind Tyrese Haliburton’s 31-point night, the Pacers bounced back from their blowout loss to the Celtics two nights ago.

Jaylen Brown had 31 points to lead the green team, but it wasn’t enough to avoid their sixth home loss of the season. Regardless, Brown knows exactly what’s causing the slump, and what the Celtics have to do moving forward.

“We gotta emphasize that we gotta get back to emphasizing the defensive side of the ball,” Brown said, per Celtics on CLNS. “It’s kind of slipped over the last few games, our intensity. And teams are pressuring us, they’re being physical with us, we gotta do some of the same stuff back to them.”

Jaylen Brown on Boston's defense:

"We gotta emphasize that we gotta get back to emphasizing the defensive side of the ball. It's kind of slipped over the last few games."

FULL INTERVIEW: https://t.co/4OZEvAbumX
– #celtics #pacers #bostonceltics
⚡️by @PrizePicks @Gametime pic.twitter.com/o2I6AJKypY

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) December 30, 2024

The Celtics falter on Sunday 

© Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
That downward slip of intensity was present against the Pacers on Sunday. In addition to the Celtics being outscored in terms of efficiency, Brown and Co. were outrebounded by Indiana, 50-41. The Pacers also controlled the offensive glass, as energetic bench players led the way to give Indiana 11 offensive boards. Furthermore, the Celtics allowed the Pacers to play their run-and-gun brand of basketball in the form of 18 fastbreak points given up.

From December 19 up to now (the span of their last six games), the Celtics hold a 15th-ranked defensive rating (112.1) and are 14th in opponent rebounds per game (44.8). This is quite concerning, considering how they’re known to boast one of the league’s most versatile defenses.

The schedule ahead won’t make things any easier. The Celtics’ next five games include opponents such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Denver Nuggets. If Boston wants to regain their footing, they have no choice but to heed Jaylen Brown’s comments.

Indiana Fever star Kelsey Mitchell has shared a heartfelt tribute to her teammate Caitlin Clark, although she admits the “spotlight” brought by the rookie sensation has been challenging.

Clark was selected No. 1 overall in this year’s WNBA Draft and went on to be named the Rookie of the Year after a record-breaking debut season. The guard’s success in college with Iowa already made her a transcendent star, and her mainstream status only grew in her first season as a professional.

Clark, 22, helped spark a dramatic upturn in viewing figures for the WNBA as part of a talented and charismatic rookie class. For the most part, she has let her play do the talking, overcoming a difficult start to finish the season averaging 19 points and eight assists per game – leading the Fever to a 20-20 record and a short-lived playoff run in the process.

Two-time All-Star guard Mitchell, 29, has opened up on her “respect” for Clark. She wrote in The Players’ Tribune: “And I have so much respect for Caitlin, especially, and how she handled it as a youngin’.

“I hope we did a good job of being there for you, too, C. I gave her her flowers early in the game because the eyes she brought shined a light on all of us, too.”

But Mitchell says with greater attention as a result of Clark’s arrival came greater scrutiny – something that was particularly challenging as she grieved following the sudden death of her father aged 56.

“We obviously had a new spotlight on us, with Caitlin being drafted, who I’m proud to call a teammate. That was exciting in its own way, with the fans it brought to the arena, and the opportunity it gave our squad,” Mitchell explained.

“But I think, in a weird way, the outside noise kind of made people forget sometimes that we’re still human, if that makes sense? The microscope got smaller and smaller, and I don’t think anybody was really thinking about the fact that my dad just died, or Katie Lou [Samuelson] is a mom trying to figure out motherhood and being a WNBA pro all in one, you know? We all had real things we were going through.

“I’ll be honest, the spectacle was unsettling sometimes. Some of the newer fans have been really hateful online to the incredible women in our league, and to me and our Fever players as well.

“But we leaned on each other to get through it. There were moments throughout the season when Katie Lou checked on me, and I checked on her. Kristy Wallace was there for me in Chicago, when I couldn’t hold back my emotions about my dad during shootaround, and she noticed and gave me a safe space to just bawl my eyes out.”

Baltimore Ravens superstar Lamar Jackson gave Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and the WNBA its flowers during a recent interview.

On September 29, Chicago Sky superstar Angel Reese was spotted attending the Baltimore Ravens’ NFL home game against the Buffalo Bills and had a wholesome interaction with one of the Ravens’ best players.

Reigning NFL MVP and Ravens franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson was elite that day, throwing for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns while adding 54 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown in what ended up being a 35-10 win for Baltimore.

Perhaps Reese (who is a Maryland native and appears to be a Ravens fan) was inspired by this fantastic performance from Jackson. Then again, given his comments during an interview with ESSENCE that was released on December 25, it might have been Jackson who was inspired by Reese that day.

When ESSENCE Sports host Sharí Nycole asked Jackson what women’s sports he’s excited about right now, Jackson said, “Basketball, the WNBA”.

He then discussed how he hasn’t always been a women’s basketball fan but has recently become so. Jackson later added, “Now, on a high level, I’m seeing Angel Reese, I’m seeing Caitlin [Clark], I’m seeing all these girls just go crazy now. It’s inspiring. Other girls can grow up and play basketball… they can play basketball, play some sports.”

Jackson then reiterated, “Women’s sports is going crazy right now, and I’m inspired by it.”

It’s cool to hear one of football’s biggest and most successful superstars giving his flowers to Reese, Clark, and the rest of the WNBA in what has been a banner year for the entire sport of women’s basketball.

Justin Baldoni’s lawyer says his countersuit against Blake Lively will ‘shock everyone’

It appears the hostility between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni will not end with 2024.

On the heels of the Dailymail.com’s exclusive report Friday that the It Ends with Us actor-director Baldoni, 40, and multiple associates are preparing to file a countersuit against the film’s star Lively, 37, when courts open up January 2, Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman vowed the contents of the filing will ‘shock everyone.’

‘I am not going to speak to when or how many lawsuits we are filing but when we file our first lawsuit, it is going to shock everyone who has been manipulated into believing a demonstrably false narrative,’ Freedman on Saturday told Deadline.

Freedman said that contents of the countersuit ‘will be supported by real evidence and tell the true story’ of how things went down between the creatives and their respective publicity teams.

‘In over 30 years of practicing, I have never seen this level of unethical behavior intentionally fueled through media manipulation,’ Freedman told the outlet. ‘It reminds me of what NBC tried to do to Megyn Kelly and Gabrielle Union and we all know how that ended up. Standby.’

Dailymail.com has reached out to Freedman, as well as reps for both Lively and Baldoni, for comment on the latest in the developing story.

It appears the hostility between Blake Lively, 37, and Justin Baldoni, 40, will not end with 2024, as a lawyer for Baldoni vows a forthcoming countersuit against the actress ‘is going to shock everyone.’ Pictured on set in NYC earlier this year

Lively accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her during production of the motion picture in multiple ways. Pictured last month in LA

Freedman told People Sunday that the countersuit will shed light on ‘those who believe themselves untouchable.’

Said Freedman: ‘This is not a response or countersuit – it’s a deliberate pursuit of truth.’

Freedman also alluded to a December 21 story on the issue published by The New York Times, titled ‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.

Freedman said that ‘this lawsuit will uncover and expose the false and destructive narrative that was intentionally engineered by a trusted media publication who relied upon nefarious sources and neglected a thorough fact checking process to confirm the validity of these texts.’

As Dailymail.com previously reported, Baldoni’s business partner Jamey Heath will also be involved with the countersuit, as well as the publicists who were cited in the complaint filed by Lively December 20.

In her 80-page legal complaint – which typically predates a formal lawsuit – Lively accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her during production of the motion picture in multiple ways.

Lively said in the legal complaint that Baldoni had barged into her trailer as she was breastfeeding her child; spoke about his past addiction to adult films; spoke about past sexual experiences with non-consensual implications; and pried her about details of her ‘intimate life.’

Lively’s legal team said in the complaint that Baldoni ‘routinely degraded [her] by finding back channel ways of criticizing her body and weight.’

Baldoni has denied all of the claims against him in Lively’s legal filing

Baldoni received an award at the Vital Voices 12th Annual Voices of Solidarity Awards on December 9 in NYC, but the honor has since been rescinded

Baldoni and select associates worked in concert in instigating a negative publicly campaign at her expense, with the intent to diminish her reputation, Lively – who is married to Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds, 48 – said in the complaint.

‘I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,’ Lively told the Times.   

Baldoni has denied all of the claims against him in Lively’s legal filing.

In the wake of Lively’s legal filing, Baldoni has faced a number of consequences, including a lawsuit from a former publicist; and being dropped by the agency WME, which also reps Lively and Reynolds.

The organization Vital Voices said in a statement December 24 that it had rescinded an honor presented to the actor-director earlier this month, The Voices of Solidary Award.

‘The Voices of Solidarity Award honors remarkable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls,’ the group said.

Vital Voices subsequently said that allegations in the complaint filed by Lively were ‘disturbing,’ ‘abhorrent’ and ‘contrary to the values’ it holds dear, leading it to revoke the honors for Baldoni.

Among the expected claims made in the countersuit as previously reported by Dailymail.com include allegations that Lively’s associates mislead with their release of out of context WhatsApp messages.

Lively and Baldoni pictured filming the movie in NYC this past January

While Lively and Baldoni ‘never got on’ and ‘rubbed each other up the wrong way,’ the actress ‘has taken bits of conversations which they had when he was trying to be her friend, when they were friendly, and weaponized them,’ an insider said

Other anticipated claims in then countersuit are that Lively’s rep used media outlets to take shots at Baldoni’s reputation; and that Lively’s December 20 complaint was filed to salvage her reputation after a stretch of negative publicity.

The timing of the complaint from Lively ‘makes no sense’ as it’s being presented, an insider previously told Dailymail.com.

‘Do you seriously think that Blake Lively, married to one of the most powerful men in town and represented by one of the most powerful publicists, is going to sit meekly by if she is sexually harassed on a film set, and then hang on for four months after the film is released before making a complaint?’ the insider asked.

The insider confirmed that while Lively and Baldoni ‘never got on’ and ‘rubbed each other up the wrong way,’ the actress ‘has taken bits of conversations which they had when he was trying to be her friend, when they were friendly, and weaponized them.’

The movie arrived in theaters August 9 and was a hit, earning $148 million in domestic box office, and $350 million globally

Lively’s spouse Ryan Reynolds was on Instagram Stories Sunday promoting his soccer club Wrexham AFC

Leslie Sloane, who heads up the PR company representing Lively, Vision PR, denied ever having provided the media with stories in regards to complaints about Baldoni’s conduct on the set of the movie, in a statement to Deadline on Saturday.

‘It’s clear that Mr. Baldoni and his Wayfarer Associates are suggesting that I originated press stories about HR complaints on set, which is false,’ Sloane said, referring back to ‘Lively’s Complaint and the Complaint filed by Jonesworks LLC and Stephanie Jones’ in regard to ‘the details of the campaign against’ Lively.

Sloane told the outlet that the situation involved both Baldoni PR chief Melissa Nathan and her sister, Page Six editor Sara Nathan.

‘I was contacted on 8/11 by Sara Nathan (Melissa Nathan’s sister) forwarding an anonymous tip that Page Six received,’ Sloane told Deadline, ‘regarding allegations of HR complaints on the set of It Ends with Us.’

Sloane told the outlet, ‘After that, I was contacted by various press outlets asking about allegations of HR complaints. When contacted, I responded to press questions by referring them to Wayfarer or Sony for information regarding HR complaints.’

It Ends with Us, which also starred Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Brandon Sklenar and Kevin McKidd, arrived in theaters August 9 and was a hit with audiences. It earned $148 million in domestic box office, and $350 million globally, according to Box Office Mojo.

Anthony Edwards is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The Minnesota Timberwolves star found himself in hot water yet again for his colorful language during media appearances. The NBA recently slapped him with a $100,000 fine for inappropriate language during his on-court interview in Houston.

This penalty was announced by Joe Dumars, the league’s Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations. And with that, it seems like the NBA is serious about cleaning up its image.

During a celebratory moment following a jaw-dropping buzzer-beater against the Houston Rockets on December 27, Edwards let loose.  He put out a string of expletives that quickly became the talk of the town.

But what did he say?

“All I knew was, the play was for Ju to go 14… Once he picked it up, sh*t, who else? I gotta go get it. Sh*t… Sh*t, I’m going for the win. Like Gilbert Arenas said, I don’t do overtime, so f**k it!” Edwards said during the said interview.

This incident follows a previous $75,000 penalty for a similar offense just weeks prior. This isn’t an isolated incident, either. The NBA has recently ramped up its efforts to hold players accountable for their words. LaMelo Ball was fined just weeks earlier for making homophobic comments.

We all know Edwards for his lively personality and charismatic playstyle, but this fine could serve as a wake-up call. And at a time when the league is clearly in a no-joke mode, it would be better if the star guard keeps himself away from such incidents. However, the NBA’s decision to penalize ANT is not sitting well with Edwards’ fans. They are ripping the officials off for their decision.

Anthony Edwards’ Fans Slams NBA Officials Over Massive Fine

While the authority to sanction a player for his actions is ultimately in the NBA officials’ hands, social media fans know no boundaries. If they think a decision is not justifiable based on their views, they will go after it. That is exactly what happened in Anthony Edwards’ case.

“Yall fined a player 100k for making him do an interview 40 seconds after the game ended where he made a game winning shot and his energy is still high and that’s how he talks everyday? Y’all got problems,” a fan made his point.

“Yall literally posted videos on your official nba page but you fining the man 6 figures??” another fan commented

“THIS is why your ratings are down,” a user quipped.

“Then remove the video from your social channels since it’s such a problem,” a fan suggested.

“WhY iS ViEwErShIp DoWn.” Because the league treats these grown men like kids. Can’t say anything or show emotion in interviews. Can’t taunt or flex or stare down after a dunk or block…. Professional sports is entertainment, let them entertain us,” another user wrote.

While most of the comments resonate with Edwards’ emotions and calling out the league, the picture is different. The NBA is navigating an unsettling tide. The ratings are down, rules are changing, fans are shouting for every inch, and the on-court drama is known to all. Like every other transformative change, the league will also have to go through all of it.

The Los Angeles Lakers have made an important roster move. They traded D’Angelo Russell and Maxwell Lewis to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. The Lakers are strengthening their defensive end with this deal.

They signed Finney-Smith to create more space for stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as he boasts a career-high 43.5% shooting from beyond the arc this season. Interestingly, Dorian is the only player in the NBA this season who has defended guards, forwards, and centers for a minimum of 15 half-court matchups per game, as reported by Second Spectrum.

In contrast, Shake Milton joins the Lakers as a valuable bench option. He averaged 7.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in limited playing time with the Nets. While Russell’s departure leaves a gap in the starting point guard position, Milton’s addition offers depth and the potential to be a spark off the bench. This restructured lineup also sees Finney-Smith likely stepping into a prominent role and enhancing both the offense and defense.

With key players like Austin Reaves and Anthony Davis still firmly in place, the Lakers aim to build a more cohesive unit. Unfortunately, this trade marks the end of Russell’s time with the Lakers, where he struggled to live up to expectations. He averaged just 12.4 points and shied away from his career numbers. The deal, which involved sending three second-round picks in 2027, 2030, and 2031 to Brooklyn, comes as the Lakers look to enhance their lineup.

Dorian Finney-Smith’s Trade To The Lakers Sparks Buzz On Social Media

This trade is not a blockbuster trade by any measure. And there will still be a lot to be sorted on the Lakers side. However, it has injected a new sense of positivity among the LA fans and they are in full swing on the internet.

“And they gave barely nothing for him, rob pelinka with the trade of the decade,” a fan wrote.

“It’s scary hours for the NBA,” another fan wrote.

“Their Ceiling got upgraded From 1st Round exit to 2nd Round Exit at Best Great Job,” a user added.

“Where’s the offense going to come from? I get defense is important, but you have Rui and Venderbilt in the same position. Lakers needed a defensive center to help AD,” a fan asked.

“Lakers grabbing all these role players lol…Lakers just gotta ride the wave till Antman becomes a FA and build around him,” another user added.

Although, Dorian Finney-Smith is stepping into a pivotal role with the Lakers. It’s clear they see him as a key piece for their future. With Cam Reddish failing to establish himself offensively, Finney-Smith’s impressive shooting offers a much better option for spacing and scoring.

What’s even more exciting is how well Finney-Smith fits into the Lakers’ starting lineup. At 6-foot-7 and weighing 220 pounds, he adds the size and strength that the team has been looking for. This new addition will allow them to be more versatile against modern NBA offenses.

In the year of Caitlin Clark, no one comes close. Yes, A’ja Wilson won the MVP, and Napheesa Collier the Defensive Player of the Year. Yes, it was actually the New York Liberty and not Clark’s Indiana Fever that won the Finals. And yet, the point guard continues to bring in the honors even deep into the offseason. After earning Athlete of the Year honors from both TIME magazine and the Associated Press, she’s now giving competition to bother Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu in a literal game of cards.

In the Goldin December Elite WNBA card battle, it was just reported that the Indiana Fever star outsold both the Aces and Liberty stars. Where A’ja Wilson Signatures GV 1/1 sold for $915, the Sabrina Ionescu Color Blast SSP cards went for $2,319. As for Indiana’s No. 22? The reigning league ROTY’s five cards accounted for $216,672 of the total $219,906 WNBA card sales.

Here is the breakdown –

Caitlin Clark Black Gold Auto 1/5 – $12,322
Caitlin Clark Sparks Patch 1/1 – $13,420
Caitlin Clark Selections GV 1/1 – $40,870
Caitlin Clark Concourse BF 1/1 – $52,460
Caitlin Clark Signatures BF 1/1 – $97,600

If you combine Wilson and Ionescu’s card sale value and compare it with Clark’s total, it amounts to the Fever guard having a $21.34K advantage. With over $200K in WNBA cards sold in a single auction, there is a clear winner here!

The collectibles brand, which boasts “over $1.5 billion worth of sales of rare and highly sought-after collectible items” per their official website, is also an official auction partner of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

As has been already established by season-end reports, not only did Clark drive more audiences to arenas and viewers to their TVs, but the “Caitlin Clark effect” also resulted in increased merchandise sales.

Interestingly, according to eBay, searches for “WNBA” items increased 110% during this season as compared to 2023. While Clark leads the charts as one of their five most searched athletes across all sports, women’s or men’s, Ionescu and Wilson rank in the top 5, along with one natural entry and the other slightly surprising.

Caitlin Clark finds herself in the company of rivals in eBay’s top 5 WNBA player list

Where the Des Moines native is No. 1 on the list, the next spot is occupied by a familiar face – Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese. Given how one reason for increased attention on Clark was because of her rivalry with LSU’s Lady Tigers star, her entry is not surprising.

Even in the W, Reese had a record-breaking rookie year with a new record for rebounds per game (13.1 per game), double-doubles for a rookie (26), and the most offensive rebounds (172).

Third on eBay’s most searched WNBA players for this season was Ionescu, who might not have had the best season overall but did have her moments in the Finals vs. the Lynx.

Fourth on the list is A’ja Wilson, which might be surprising for the 3x MVP who also became the first WNBA player to record 1,000 points in a season. No. 5 is her LV Aces teammate, Kelsey Plum, who won the gold at the Olympics with No. 3 and No. 4 on the list.

In any case, these sales are only going to go up as the W gains more popularity and the market for their merch sales grows, in some part thanks to Caitlin Clark. It might be the Fever star at the forefront for now but the butterfly effect of her popularity is palpable!

 

Angel Reese has been making waves since her time at LSU, not only for her impressive performances but also for the strong personal brand she’s built. The Chicago star is known for speaking out on important issues, even launching her own podcast in September to create a platform for her voice. Recently, however, she brought attention back to an old message while staying quiet about a new drama surrounding her.

The Sky forward re-shared a tweet she posted back in April, which simply said, “protect young women in sports!!!” While the message was brief, Reese’s decision to bring it up again after eight months leaves many wondering what prompted her to resurface this statement now.

A role model for young girls, Reese’s message seems to coincide with internet personality Charleston White’s offensive remark about her during his appearance on Jeff Teague’s podcast. The Chicago Sky star, however, has been silent on the instance so far.

However, the ‘Chi-Town Barbie’ has consistently shown her support for empowering young girls in the past. Earlier in an exclusive with People, the 22-year-old shared some great advice for young girls balancing their love for sports and the entertainment industry.

“It’s okay to do both, and know that women don’t have to be put into a box where they have to do one specific thing.” Reese had told People. In fact, she has also mentioned how motivating the younger generation keeps her going, which is why she  started a foundation dedicated to empowerment.

Angel Reese reflects on her responsibility as a role model

During a September practice with the Chicago Sky, Reese opened up about what it’s like to be an inspiration for young girls. She shared how it feels to be in the spotlight and talked about the responsibilities that come with being a role model.

“It gives me an expression to keep going every day. I mean, every day is not gonna be easy but just being able to wake up but somebody is looking at me, somebody is looking at my social media. Like, how can I be here be one day. So, that’s why I try to be as positive as I can all the time and just being there for people. I just remember when I was younger, had people, but not many pros to look up to that I can actually connect with. So, I wanna be that person that they wanna connect a lot too,” Reese had shared.

After winning the NCAA championship with LSU, Reese announced the launch of the Angel C. Reese Foundation. The foundation focuses on empowering girls and women through sports, education, financial literacy, and more. She shared that the goal behind starting her foundation was to create equal opportunities for young women, especially in areas where they’ve often been overlooked.

Her foundation aims to provide equal opportunities for young women and underrepresented groups through various initiatives. These include programs designed to tackle systemic challenges and resources that empower the next generation of girls to thrive in sports and successfully navigate life beyond.

Reese continues to inspire and empower young women, showing how sports, education, and leadership can create a brighter future. However, the reason behind her recent message still remains unclear.