Molly Qerim Fired from ESPN Broadcast for HATING on Caitlin Clark —Stephen A. Smith EXPLODES!

down [Music] again Caitlyn Clark has taken the WNBA by storm breaking records in shutting down critics left and right but one critic ESPN's Molly caram went a step too far claiming Clark's presence on the USA olympic team would hurt the game now with Clark continuing her historic season Molly is walking back her words this is how Caitlyn Clark made Molly carum regret doubting her stay tuned to see how this showdown between an emerging Superstar and a high-profile critic unfolded when the USA olympic team roster was announced Caitlyn Clark's Omission sent shock waves through the basketball

world for a player as dominant and widely regarded as the future of women's basketball being left off the roster was puzzling to many Cheryl Reed team USA's coach explained the decision citing Clark's inexperience at the professional level and the fact that she missed training camp due to her College commitments during March Madness but the real stir came when Molly carum weighed in on ESPN's First Take she boldly claimed that putting Caitlyn Clark on the roster would hurt the game and implied that the decision to leave her off the team was justified St I could actually

argue that it hurts the game more if they had given her a roster spot over someone more deserving Molly argued that adding Clark to the team would prioritize marketing over Merit essentially suggesting that Clark wasn't skilled enough to deserve a spot that's exactly what I'm saying because I think it makes a mockery of the women's game if the focus on okay now we just have to have people because of marketing and their attention and they're not as talented we're not putting the best team out there her words sparked immediate backlash with fans and analysts pointing

out that Clark's onc Court performances had already proven her to be one of the most talented players in the WNBA even in her rookie season Kim's comments were controversial for several reasons for one Clark had already broken multiple WNBA records by that point including the fastest rookie to hit 103 pointers and the first to log a triple double these achievements were unprecedented especially considering how few rookies in WNBA history have made such an impact right out of the gate fans were quick to defend Clark pointing out that her exclusion from the Olympic team had more

to do with Logistics than Talent Stephen A Smith kum's co-host even questioned the logic behind leaving Clark off the Olympic roster truly believe eyeballs are going to tune in people are going to be clamoring let me get my popcorn ready to see Caitlyn Clark ride the bench no no no but out but first of all two points to that number one we don't know if she's going to R ride the bench that's number one well they're going to put out tell hold on Molly you can't ask me a question I'm coming I'm answer I'm telling

you you you you know she's not going to be one of the starting Vibes did you be that idiotic and not make that call when throughout history Team USA has been in part about marketing it's dumb period given her potential to elevate the team's profile and increase viewership he argued that having a player like Clark on the team wouldn't detract from the competition but instead enhanced the overall level of play and fan engagement after all this was a player who had carried her college team to deep tournament runs and was now carrying the Indiana Fever

out of a playoff drought while the debate raged on about her Olympic snub Caitlyn Clark was doing what she does best proving her critics wrong on the court by the time the Olympic Games Were underway Clark was already setting new records in the WNBA she became the first rookie in WNBA history to win player of the month broke the record for most three-pointers in a rookie season and logged multiple triple doubles in what is now being called the greatest rookie season in league history Clark also propelled the Indiana Fever to their first playoff appearance since

2016 a feat that many thought was impossible they turned it around they won seven of their eight since they clinched a playoff birth for the first time since 2016 which by the way was the last year of Hall of Famer and franchise I on Tama Catchings career so Caitlyn she continues to make history she's the first rookie to win WNBA player of the month since the awards Inception she not only led the team in scoring but also in assists showcasing her ability to make her teammates better Aaliyah Boston for example had the best season of

her career playing alongside Clark with both Stars earning Allstar nods and Clark wasn't just putting up stats she was doing it in style from hitting logo threes to dishing out jaw-dropping assists she quickly became the most talked about player in the WNBA her rise to super stardom was undeniable and fans couldn't help but wonder how different the Olympic team's fate could have been had Clark been on the roster as Clark continued to dominate Molly carum found herself in a tough spot the numbers didn't lie Caitlyn Clark was proving herself to be one of the best

players in the league on first take Molly tried to explain her earlier comments stating that while she didn't doubt Clark's Talent she believed other players deserve the spotlight as well anybody didn't think he was going to be successful or not play it was just that we felt the other players in the W deserve shine as well Molly Molly I said really Molly wow we they jumped on us they jumped on us Molly they jumped on us as a show they jumped on us as a show when we were talk about but fans weren't buying it

social media media quickly lit up with many calling out Kim for underestimating Clark and not acknowledging her rapid rise to Greatness even Stephen A Smith chimed in saying that it's one thing to want balance in the spotlight but it's another to deny a player the credit they deserve you know why we didn't do a better job of promoting the WNBA because the numbers the eyeballs the interest the sizzle the headlines were not there no one cared the public didn't care and so now you have somebody and so now you have somebody that has the world

caring and you say to her well you know what we want to make purely basketball decisions it's the right thing to do and we got to be worried about how other people are going to feel the tension on the show was palpable and Molly's attempts to justify her earlier remarks only seemed to backfire in fact Clark's success proved just the opposite of 's claims not only did her presence Elevate the fever but it also brought more attention to the entire league WNBA viewership surged and games featuring Clark consistently Drew larger audiences than those without her

fans were tuning in to see the next generation of basketball and Clark was the face of that movement throughout all of this Caitlyn Clark never addressed Molly carm's comments directly instead she let her performance on the court speak for itself game after after game she continued to break records lead her team to victories and solidify her place in the MVP conversation Clark has always been known for her composure and confidence and that's exactly how she handled the situation rather than engage in the back and forth of media drama she focused on what she does best

playing basketball at an elite level her ability to rise above the noise and deliver on the court is what sets her apart from other players and it's why despite the early criticisms Caitlyn Clark is now one of the most respected names in the game as we look ahead one thing is clear Caitlyn Clark isn't going anywhere if her rookie season is any indication she's only scratching the surface of her potential her historic run has already put her in the conversation for MVP and she's quickly becoming the face of the WNBA the USA olympic team may

have snubbed her this time but with the way Clark is playing it's hard to imagine a future without her and as for her critics they're learning quickly that doubting Caitlyn Clark isn't a good idea Caitlyn Clark is proving the doubters wrong and the world is finally catching up to her greatness what do you think did Molly carum underestimate Caitlyn Clark should Clark have been on the Olympic team from the start drop your thoughts in the comments and don't forget to like And subscribe for more updates on Caitlyn Clark's rise to super stardom trust us you

won't want to miss what happens next as we look at Diamond the Shields and Caitlyn Clark how much more experience that gives you over other players coming in rank so people say dang like he or she's killing them but you have a 25-year-old playing against a 20-year-old mhm like you you should be killing them cuz you've been doing it a lot longer than they have clock right now probably takes about 40 shots a game here we go Cheryl SW swoops has been stirring up controversy in the WNBA particularly with her critical comments about Rising Superstar

Caitlyn Clark this season swoops has made no secret of her jealousy but her latest actions have taken things to a whole new level ESPN the network that's been closely following Caitlyn Clark's meteoric rise has highlighted her impact on the WNBA numerous times making swoops criticism even more surprising Diamond the shields recently made headlines in WNBA news for an aggressive play against Caitlyn Clark sparking intense debate among WNBA fans Imagine This D Shield's intercepts Clark at half court during a key Indiana Fever game not with just any foul but with a clear frustration driven play The

Fallout from this incident was immediate with WNBA analysts and fans calling it out as a dirty play against Caitlyn Clark it wasn't okay it was a playr fou igniting a firestorm of controversy the aftermath of diamond The Shield's actions didn't stop at just criticism the shields faced a barrage of backlash including receiving racist threats uh Diamond The Shield received racist threats after Caitlyn Clark flagrant fou which highlighted ongoing issues within the WNBA Community but amid this storm Cheryl swoops stood out as a vocal supporter of to Shields continuing her narrative against Caitlyn Clark swoops tweeted

head up kid hate will not win you are covered and there's nothing these evil people can do about that all love for you this tweet while supportive of the shields had significant consequences for swoops leading to her removal from the WNBA broadcast team for the highly anticipated fever versus Dallas Wings game a pivotal WNBA matchup when questioned by WNBA fans who were eager to hear her commentary swoops didn't hold back responding with the now famous phrase not today Satan but let's be honest supporting WNBA players who engage in potentially dangerous career-threatening actions isn't a good

look for a WNBA Legend like swoops this incident isn't isolated it's just the latest in a series of actions that suggest jealousy and resentment towards Caitlyn Clark one of the most talked about players in women's basketball today Steven A Smith a well-known Sports commentator frequently featured on ESPN has consistently defended Caitlyn Clark and this time was no different Smith didn't hesitate to call out Cheryl swoops for her biased and baseless criticism of Clark swops no no no no no no CIT no cait claw respectfully Cheryl swoops you have any idea how that makes you look

you have any idea how that serves to stain any kind of critique of Caitlyn Clark the Caitlyn Clark effect isn't just a buzzword it's a real phenomenon in women's basketball driving WNBA viewership and attendance to new heights Caitlyn Clark is redefining the game every time she steps onto the court breaking WNBA records and setting new standards for what's possible in women's sports but with greatness comes envy and swoops his actions seem to reflect the challenges that come with being a Trailblazer like Caitlyn Clark the tension between Cheryl swoops and Caitlyn Clark goes back to Clark's

college basketball days swoops openly questioned whether Clark's skills would translate to the WNBA even suggesting that angel Reese's game was better suited for professional play swoops confidently predicted that Clark wouldn't dominate the WNBA immediately like no it's not going to be that easy so will Caitlyn Clark be a good Pro absolutely will Caitlyn Clark come into the WNBA and do what she's doing right now immediately absolutely not not going to happen Okay but as we've seen Caitlyn Clark has exceeded all expectations proving her doubters wrong at every turn but swoops didn't stop at questioning Clark's

abilities she also criticized Clark's NCA scoring record dismissing it as a result of volume shooting rather than skill going to break a record to me if it's legitimate you have to break that record in the same amount of time that that player set it okay so if if Kelsey Plum set that record in 4 years mhm well Caitlyn should have broke that record in four years but because there's a CO year and then there's another year you know what I mean so she's already had an extra year to break that record so is it truly

a broken record yeah that'll go in the record books as Caitlyn Clark is the alltime whatever it is I don't even know what the number is but that's the way it'll be and and I don't think it should be however swoops got several key facts wrong she claimed that Caitlyn Clark took advantage of an extra year of Eligibility due to covid-19 playing 5 years of college basketball in reality Clark played the standard four years just like Kelsey Plum the previous record holder what's more Caitlyn broke the record in fewer Games showing that it wasn't just

about taking more shots but making them count swoops also exaggerated by stating that cait Clark takes 40 shots per game when in truth Clark's average is closer to 19 shots per game and perhaps the most glaring mistake swoops claim that Caitlyn is 25 years old when she's actually just 22 how much more experience that gives you over other players coming in right so people say dang like he or she's killing them but you have a 25-year-old playing against a 20-year-old mhm like you you should be killing him yeah cuz you've been doing it a lot

longer than they have CLK right now probably takes about 40 shots a game here these inaccuracies have led many WNBA fans and analysts to question whether swoops is criticism is based on facts or personal bias what Cheryl swoops fails to acknowledge is the Monumental impact Caitlyn Clark is having on women's basketball and the WNBA as a whole Caitlyn Clark is bringing more attention to the WNBA than ever before inspiring a new generation of young female athletes and drawing in a wider audience to the league instead of uplifting the next generation of WNBA players swoops seems

intent on undermining their success but this isn't just about Caitlyn it's about the future of the WNBA supporting Caitlyn Clark means supporting the growth and evolution of women's basketball despite the backlash Cheryl swoops eventually issued an apology though many found it less than sincere here she defensively stated that black people can't be racist a comment that did little to menend the situation I I'm going to say this and then I want to like be done with this whole conversation so for people to comment me and say that I made those comments because I'm a racist

like first of all black people can't be racist meanwhile Caitlyn Clark continues to break records in her rookie WNBA season solidifying her place in the history of the WNBA from holding the WNBA single game assist record to becoming the youngest player to achieve consecutive double doubles in points and assists Caitlyn's accomplishments are rewriting the WNBA record books yet Cheryl swoops seems determined to ignore these achievements it's becoming clear that this isn't just a case of casual criticism it's starting to look like a personal Vendetta and people are taking notice even Stephen A Smith known for

his outspoken views on ESPN couldn't stay silent he publicly criticized swoops for her blatant bias against Clark Clark and the FIFA currently lead the WNBA in average game attendance and per game TV viewership but despite the attendance and viewership records there seems to be some haterade in the league in regards to clar starting with WNBA Legend Cheryl swoops herself the statistics don't lie Caitlyn Clark is leading the Indiana Fever to new heights with the team boasting the highest average game attendance and TV viewership in the WNBA and yet swoops refuses to give Caitlyn the credit

she deserves instead Cheryl swoops continues to praise other fever players like Lexi Hull Kelsey Mitchell and Aaliyah Boston while conspicuously leaving Caitlyn Clark out of the conversation this Indiana team I'm going to say shout out to Lexi Hull I'm a Big Lexi Hull fan watch her and Au Lexi Hull shot the leather off the ball in their game against Seattle and just couldn't miss Kelsey Mitchell is just broken she is just shooting the basketball aiyah Boston almost a triple double this Omission is becoming increasingly difficult for WNBA fans to ignore especially as Caitlyn continues to

set new records and drive the success of the Indiana Fever swoops his refusal to acknowledge Clark's contributions is not only Petty but also damaging to her own reputation as a WNBA Legend and the critic ISM doesn't end there swoops went as far as to suggest that Caitlyn's success is due to having better teammates at the fever compared to Angel Reese's situation at the Chicago sky with Caitlyn Clark and Angel Reese locked in a tight race for WNBA Rookie of the Year swoops his dismissal of Clark's Talent is almost laughable so what's next in this unfolding

drama as Caitlyn Clark continues to rise in the WNBA will the league and its Legends like Cheryl swoops finally give her the recognition she deserves or will a shadow of jealousy continue to loom over her achievements one thing is certain this story is far from over um for me if rookie of the year was picked today I give it to Angel this is a phenomenon Caitlyn Clark is a phenomenon and if I said to any of these people who think Caitlyn Clark is not the Rookie of the Year I'd say who would you want to

start your franchise with Angel Reese is a wonderful player but she does not compare to what and who Caitlyn Clark is ESPN's WNBA rookie rankings just dropped a bombshell placing Angel Reese above Caitlyn Clark but Clark's on court response nothing short of spectacular we're diving deep into the WNBA Rookie of the Year debate analyzing Caitlyn Clark's stats and breaking down the game that might have just ended the WNBA rookie race once and for all let's break this down WNBA fans ESPN just released their updated WNBA 2024 rookie Power Rankings and it's causing quite a stir

they've ranked Chicago Sky Angel Reese at number one with Indiana fever's Caitlyn Clark at number two if you've been following WNBA games this season you're probably as confused as we are about this WNBA rookie list ESPN's reasoning leans heavily on Advanced WNBA metrics citing Reese's rebounds in double double Reese has 22 double doubles including a 15 game streak impressive WNBA stats right but here's the kicker many of those rebounds come from her own missed layups Rees with another rebound making 18 rebounds remember she's on back to back with 20 rebounds looking pursuing once again Reese

with the T another chance Reese to put it Reese has the wnba's worst shooting percentage from IDE 5 ft making only 29% of her close- range shots now let's talk Caitlyn Clark WNBA impact this rookie sensation is a true WNBA phenomenon she's the fastest player in WNBA history to record 500 plus points and 250 plus assists we're not just talking about a good WNBA rookie season we're witnessing WNBA history in the recent fever versus Sky matchup Clark didn't just outplay Reese she dominated ated the WNBA game Clark's stat line an impressive 31 points 12 assists

and four rebounds in just three quarters Clark was benched with 352 left the WNBA win already secured for the fever breaking down Clark's WNBA performance she shot eight of 14 from the field five of nine from three-point range that's not just rookie efficiency that's Elite WNBA shooting those 12 assists that's top tier w NBA playmaking from a rookie meanwhile in the WNBA rookie comparison Reese posted 10 rebounds and eight points going three of eight from the field in this head-to-head WNBA rookie matchup Clark clearly outshined Reese Clark's 10th assist of the game broke another WNBA

rookie record surpassing Tia penero for most 10 plus assist games by a WNBA rookie this isn't just a good WNBA rookie season it's potentially one of the best in WNBA history let's look at the bigger WNBA picture the Indiana Fever finished last WNBA season 1327 now with Clark leading they're 16 of 16 and in WNBA playoff contention that's the Caitlyn Clark effect on WNBA teams conversely the Chicago sky are struggling more this WNBA season with Reese than last year without her while not entirely Reese's fault it raises questions about WNBA rookie impact Clark's WNBA Court

presence is gamechanging her vision passing ability and long- range shooting open up the floor for teammates Aaliyah Boston for instance is thriving with Clark's assists the entire fever team plays with more confidence when Clark is on the WNBA Court Beyond WNBA stats Clark is revolutionizing the league she's attracting new WNBA fans filling WNBA Arenas and creating unprecedented WNBA Buzz Young female basketball players watching Clark are seeing new WNBA possibilities addressing the Clark Reese WNBA rivalry while Reese is talented with a bright WNBA future Clark is currently playing at a different level some are trying to

hype this WNBA rookie rivalry including Reese herself with her gestures and actions but on the WNBA Court the comparison isn't close here's a mind-blowing WNBA stat Caitlyn Clark averages more blocks per game than angel ree despite being 4 in shorter that's WNBA defensive impact from an offensive Superstar the final score of the fever Sky game 10 1881 a dominant WNBA victory for Clark in the fever even the Chicago WNBA crowd recognized Clark's Brilliance giving her a standing ovation as she left the court that's respect in WNBA enemy territory we need to address the Less Pleasant

aspect late game frustration leading to a dirty play against Clark but true to her WNBA star status Clark got up and kept going showcasing her resilience in the face of WNBA physical play if ESPN needed this WNBA game to reassess their rookie rankings they got it Clark didn't just outplay Reese she made the entire concept of a WNBA rookie race seem laughable Clark doesn't need defending her WNBA performances speak for themselves she's not just the best WNBA rookie she's rapidly becoming one of the best WNBA players overall Clark's impact extends Beyond individual games she's elevating

the entire WNBA bringing unprecedented attention and excitement to women's basketball when was the last time we saw this much Buzz around a WNBA rookie Clark's influence will be felt in women's basketball for years she's inspiring the next generation of WNBA players showing young girls what's possible in professional women's basketball her style of play is revolutionizing WNBA offensive strategies those long range threes and nol look passes aren't just effective they're making WNBA games must- watch events as for the WNBA Rookie of the Year race Clark's performance against the sky should have ended any debate she's not

just the best rookie she's a top WNBA player period credit is due to the Indiana Fever coaching staff especially head coach Christy sides for maximizing ing Clark's WNBA potential they've built their WNBA offense around Clark's strengths showcasing smart WNBA coaching strategy WNBA rankings are opinions but Caitlyn Clark's onc Court performances are facts she's not just meeting WNBA rookie expectations she's shattering them the WNBA Rookie of the Year debate is over clark settled it with the ball in her hands and the crowd on its feet the real question how many WNBA MVP awards Will Clark win

we're witnessing the birth of a WNBA Superstar and the league will never be the same I idolize WNBA players growing up and now that I'm here in this moment and I get to do the same exact thing like how lucky am I ran Clark gets her first field goal of the afternoon did you catch the final quarter between the Indiana Fever and the Dallas Wings when it seemed like the game was slipping away Caitlyn Clark and Kelsey Mitchell rewrote the script into enely two back-to-back three-pointers from Clark as if she was just messing around in

her backyard then Kelsey Mitchell joined the party with a deep shot of her own and suddenly the fever were back in the game but this wasn't just about one comeback this was about a Duo that's set to change everything for the fever from now on what they just did could shift the entire landscape of the WNBA let's start by talking about Caitlyn Clark she's a rookie yes but she's playing as though she's been dominating the WNBA for years on this night she racked up 28 points 12 assists four rebounds and nailed five three-pointers those stats

alone are impressive but what's really astounding is how she's making it look easy her Court vision is next level seeing plays unfold before they even happen opposing defenses are scrambling trying to keep up with her ability to stretch the floor and create opportunities that didn't exist a moment earlier but it wasn't just Clark out there Kelsey Mitchell was on another level too dropping 36 points grabbing six rebounds and hitting five three-pointers of her own Mitchell's performance was nothing short of spectacular she's aggressive Relentless and when she gets in a Groove like this stopping her is

next to Impossible together Clark and Mitchell combined for 64 points more than half of the fever's total score this isn't just a good game it's a blueprint for how they're planning to dominate the rest of the season now consider this the fever were seen as underdogs when the season began a team with Talent sure but not one that anyone thought would seriously compete and yet here they are not just winning but making statements before this win against the wings they took down Angel Reese's Chicago sky on the road a feat that's tough for any team

in the WNBA winning on the road especially against strong teams is a sign that this fever team is special the chemistry between Clark and Mitchell is undeniable it's like they've been playing together for years not just one season Clark's ability to read the court and Mitchell's knack for creating her own shot make them a deadly combination how do you defend against a Duo like that opposing coaches are left scratching their heads trying to figure out a game plan that can slow them down but let's not Overlook the importance of their coach Christy sides at the

beginning of the season the fever looked like a team still trying to find its Iden identity but under Sid's leadership they've evolved into a cohesive unit the offense is clicking the defense has tightened up and every player knows their role sides has done a phenomenal job developing the team's chemistry and it's paying off big time look at how their defense has improved early on they were giving up easy points but now they're defending like their lives depend on it players like Lexi Hall are fighting for every possession and that grid is infected this is a

completely different team from the one that started the season and it's all coming together at the right time what's really exciting is how Clark and Mitchell handle pressure they want the ball in clutch moments and their confidence is contagious the entire team feeds off their energy playing with a level of intensity that makes them a formidable opponent they're having fun out there and that Joy is translating into winds so where does this leave the fever in the grand scheme of things with a record of 17 wins and 16 losses they're not just in the playoff

hunt they're practically guaranteed a spot this is a team that was expected to struggle but now they're on the verge of making serious noise in the postseason imagine being one of the top seeds and having to face Caitlyn Clark and Kelsey Mitchell in a best of three series it's a scenario that no coach wants to deal with but here's the kicker the fever are still getting better with each game they're gaining more confidence and experience if they keep improving at this rate they could be even more dangerous come playoff time they're learning how to win

tight games how to execute under pressure and how to play as a team all of this is setting them up to be a real threat in the playoffs and think about what this means for the future Clark and Mitchell aren't just a one-season Wonder they're laying the foundation for something much bigger the fever is building a team that could dominate the WNBA for years to come with these two leading the way the sky the limit for what they can achieve let's also talk about the impact this Duo is having on the rest of the team

the confidence that Clark and Mitchell bring to the floor is spreading to their teammates suddenly everyone on the fever is playing at a higher level it's as if their Excellence is raising the standard for everyone around them and that's the mark of true leaders they make everyone else better now consider how this all plays out in the playoffs the fever is heading into the postseason with zero pressure they've already exceeded expectations just by getting there that means they can play loose without the fear of making mistakes and a team that plays without fear is a

dangerous one their style of play with longdistance shots and creative passing can cause serious problems for teams that aren't used to defending this kind of attack but here's the thing many teams might still underestimate the fever based on their recent history they might think this is the same old fever a team that's an easy win in the playoffs but that would be a huge mistake mistake this is a new team with a new mindset and they're ready to prove everyone wrong perhaps the most important factor is the evolution of the team throughout the season they've

improved in every aspect of the game and if they keep evolving at this pace the rest of the league better watch out imagine if Clark and Mitchell arrive at the playoffs even better than they are now it's a scary scenario for any team that has to face them of course winning a title is still a tall order but making noise in the play offs knocking off a favorite all of that seems increasingly possible and regardless of the final result this is just the beginning with Clark Mitchell and the rest of the team the fever is

building something [Music] special off as we look at Diamond the Shields and Caitlyn Clark and diamond with three fouls against Caitlyn and they're going to go and look at this one it all started with a hard foul from Diamond to Shields Caitlyn Clark was breaking down the court after Aaliyah Boston stole the ball and passed it to her but out of nowhere the shields bulldozed her again this wasn't the first time Caitlyn had taken a hard hit in this game and it wouldn't be the last but here's the thing Caitlyn Clark wasn't phased she got

back up brushed herself off and didn't even waste her energy on the shields except for a few Choice words at this point it was clear everyone was gunning for her especially Angel Reese and her crew they knew if they didn't slow her down their Rookie of the Year chances were over now let's not act like this was just some isolated incident take a look at this wild stat nearly 80% of all flagrant fouls against rookies this season they were aimed right at Caitlyn that's right 80% and it wasn't just random players targeting her a large

chunk of those came from Angel ree in her Squad this wasn't just a rivalry it was an allout war on the court this was the final matchup between Caitlyn's fever and Angel's sky for the season and both sides knew what was at stake if Angel Reese could outplay Caitlyn in this game it might just tip the scales for the Rookie of the Year race but if Caitlyn dominated it was all over Caitlyn wasted no time proving why she's in a league of her own right out of the gate she showed off her signature playmaking threading

the needle with a perfect pass to Nelissa Smith for an easy bucket but Caitlyn didn't stop there she followed that up by draining a deep three the kind that makes you wonder if she's even human the crowd was going wild and it was clear that Caitlyn wasn't here just to win she was here to destroy meanwhile Angel she was having a nightmare of a first quarter missing wideopen shots turning the ball over it was rough by the end of the first Caitlyn had already stacked up seven points three assists and two rebounds Ang on the

other hand just two points and a whole lot of frustration but things were only getting started in the second quarter Caitlyn turned up the heat even more she hit backtack threes and kept finding her teammates for easy looks it was as if she had eyes in the back of her head dishing out passes that left the sky defense scrambling an angel she just couldn't keep up Miss after Miss frustration was starting to boil over she picked up two fouls and by halftime Caitlyn had the fever up by 10 with 15 points and six assists to

her name Angel had a mere four points and was already in foul trouble the third quarter was where the game turned into a full-on clinic Caitlyn put on a show cooking her Defenders with lethal Crossovers and pinpoint passes it was like she was playing a different game from everyone else at one point she stopped on a dime and nailed a step back three right in Angel Reese's face the crowd erupted and even the commentator ERS couldn't believe what they were seeing Caitlyn was running the show an angel she looked completely outmatched by the end of

the third quarter Caitlyn had dropped 25 points dished out nine assists and pulled down four boards Angel meanwhile was stuck on six points and her Sky were down by 14 with the game all but wrapped up Caitlyn's dominance didn't stop she was toying with the sky defense slicing through them and finding wideopen Shooters like it was nothing every every possession was another nail in the coffin and Angel Reese could only watch as Caitlyn ran circles around her team then came the final dagger Caitlyn finds Lexi Hull for back-to-back threes and with that The Fever pushed

the lead to 20 it was a statement plain and simple Caitlyn had not only outplayed angel she had embarrassed her on the biggest stage of the season but it didn't stop there right as the fever started to pull their starters the shields once again took her shot at Caitlyn this time a cheap shot to the body that sent Caitlyn flying to the floor the refs wasted no time flagrant foul without a doubt but what did Caitlyn do she got up smiled and waved to the crowd letting them know that nothing could stop her not fouls

not trash talk and certainly not Angel Reese Caitlyn had the last laugh hyping up the fever fans as she left the court she had just dropped 31 points with 12 assists and five rebounds putting the Rookie of the Year debate to bed once and for all as for Angel Reese she petted her stats during garbage time finishing with a double double 10 points 11 rebounds but those numbers meant nothing everyone knew Caitlyn had already won not just the game but the season long battle for Rookie of the Year Caitlyn's message was clear this is her

League now and if you think this performance was something just wait because next up the MVP convers ation after nights like this there's no doubt Caitlyn's got her eyes on even bigger prizes