Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese were standout figures in NCAA basketball during the 2022-23 season onwards, with both athletes rising to prominence and being selected as top picks in the recent WNBA draft.
While fans frequently compare the two stars, they each embody distinct personalities and lifestyles, with Clark often showcasing a more grounded demeanor than her rival.
In her recent exit interview following the Indiana Fever‘s playoff elimination, Clark discussed the challenges of fame and the scrutiny that comes with it.
“I feel like everybody is watching your every move no matter what you’re doing,” Clark shared.
“And I feel like the best thing that I’ve tried to live by is just be the same person that I am off the court whether I’m leaving my apartment every single day or whether I am here sitting in front of all you all.
“I’ve tried to approach it in the same exact manner that I can and treat everybody with the same amount of respect that I can and to try to build really good relationships with people.”
Clark strives to treat everyone with respect, regardless of her success, and has built strong bonds with teammates throughout her basketball journey, from her time at Iowa to her current WNBA team.
Humility has been thrust into the WNBA conversation
Raised in Des Moines, Iowa, by parents Brent and Anne Nizzi-Clark, Clark developed a passion for basketball at an early age, inspired by athletes like Maya Moore.
Despite her impressive achievements and a net worth of 3.8 million dollars, Clark remains humble, attributing her grounded nature to her upbringing.
“Obviously some days are going to be tougher than others and some days are going to be amazing that’s just life and I will give my parents a lot of credit,” Clark said.
“I feel like I was raised in a way like you want to treat every single person with respect and I feel like I have a really good feel on you know basketball [and it] isn’t my everything and that’s the way I was raised.
“Basketball is something that I absolutely love to do but there was a lot of other things that I had to have done in my life whether it was school, whether it was you know emptying the dishwasher or taking out the trash.”
She recalls her father’s lessons on respect, which have shaped her character and helped her navigate the challenges of fame.
In contrast, Reese has expressed a clear preference for financial success over fame. Coming from modest beginnings, she has openly acknowledged that basketball scholarships were essential for her education.
“I’d rather be rich than famous,” Reese declared. “Everybody wanna be famous. But they don’t really know what come with it.
“It’s unlike all the connections and stuff you make but sometimes you just live a normal life like we was talking about like just being able to walk down the street casually.
“And now I have always take pictures and sign autographs like sometime when I just want to live a normal 22 year old life like that’s what I would say.
While Clark tends to avoid the limelight, opting for a more private existence, Reese embraces the opportunities that come with her public persona.
This difference in their approaches to fame highlights the diverse experiences athletes encounter as they navigate their careers.
As both Clark and Reese continue to make strides in their professional lives, their unique paths illustrate the various ways athletes can succeed.
Clark‘s emphasis on relationships and respect serves as an inspiring example, while Reese‘s focus on financial stability underscores the realities many young athletes face.
