March 2025

Julian ‘Juju’ Reese has been playing with something to prove all season. From the moment his sister, Angel Reese, said he’d have a big year, the Maryland forward has backed it up. Now, he’s leading the Terps on a deep tournament run, proving he belongs among college basketball’s best.

Maryland’s road to the Sweet 16 hasn’t been easy. They finished the regular season 26-8 and made a strong push in the Big Ten tournament before falling to Michigan in the final. As the No. 4 seed in the West Regional, they had to grind for every win. First up? A tough battle against the No. 13 Grand Canyon. Julian set the tone with 18 points and nine rebounds in a hard-fought win. But the next game was the real test.

Things started rocky for Maryland. They trailed by 12 in the first half and were down seven at halftime. But then came the comeback, fueled by their height advantage and sheer refusal to go home early. With six seconds left, Colorado State’s Jalen Lake unleashed a rainbow three-pointer, giving the Rams a 71-70 lead. Terps fans were sweating. But freshman big man, Derik Queen, wasn’t about to let a Cinderella story happen on his watch. The 6-foot-10 center calmly drilled a fadeaway jumper off the glass as the buzzer sounded, sending the Terps to the Sweet 16 for the 15th time in program history.

The crowd went wild. And Angel? She was right there celebrating. She hopped on X and fired off a four-word message: “Sweet 16. Let’s Dance! GO TERPS!”—a rallying cry that was more than just sibling pride. It was sure to spark motivation in the entire camp, as they now prepare to face No. 1 seed Florida in the West Region semifinals.

Coming to Julian, he wasn’t just padding the stats sheet- he was making history. He entered the game with a deficit of five rebounds to hit the 1,000 mark. And if you know Julian, you know he wastes no time! Snatching the milestone with 5:32 left in the first half, he entered a very exclusive club. Let’s put it this way—before tonight, the entire membership list read: Len Elmore. Now? It’s Len Elmore and Julian Reese. The Terps made sure to celebrate accordingly: “Len Elmore. Julian Reese. The only Terps with 1,000 career rebounds. Congrats, Juju!”

Never stopping and with 22 seconds left, the 6-foot-9 junior forward muscled his way to a crucial offensive rebound, then coolly drained two free throws to give Maryland a 70-68 lead. “Big rebounds in big games are becoming a Reese family tradition,” wrote the Associated Press. Pretty spot on!

Rebounding does run in the family. Angel Restarted her college career at Maryland before becoming a star at LSU. As a sophomore with the Terrapins women’s team in 2022, she led Maryland to the Sweet 16, averaging 17.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Her standout performance came against No. 1 seed Stanford, where she posted 25 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks in a 72-66 loss. “A healthy Maryland is a scary Maryland,” she said ahead of that game, something that still resonates. Though she transferred to LSU—a move she described as needing “to see something different”—her ties to the program and her Baltimore roots remain unbreakable.

Julian plays with that same fire. He dominated against Colorado State with 15 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 5-for-7 from the field and hitting all five free throws, battling the likes of Colorado State’s Rashaan Mbemba with an edge honed from his Baltimore youth.

“I played with the boys and my brother,” Angel once said of those days, “I used to win all the time. And I used to trash talk. They hated it.” That competitive fire, now present in Julian too, was forged on their driveway hoop under the watchful eye of their mother, Angel Reese Sr., who also used to play. “My mom had to take [the hoop] down because me and him used to literally go at it and kill each other,” Angel recalled in an ESPN feature. After the game, Julian too reflected on the intensity that fuels both him and Angel. “I know she’s probably going crazy,” he said. “We just play with so much intensity and wear our feelings on our sleeves. I just didn’t want that to be our last game.”

Now, Julian is leading Maryland’s March Madness run while Angel dominates in the WNBA and Unrivaled’s 3×3 league. The Reese siblings keep pushing each other. But the job’s not done. Next up? No. 1 seed Florida.

Angel Reese’s brother and team ready for the Florida showdown

Maryland is now heading to the Sweet 16. And they’ve got their biggest test yet—No. 1 seed Florida. A spot in the Elite Eight is on the line. The Terps will need every ounce of Julian’s fire to keep dancing.

Reese has been the heart of this Maryland squad. He’s not just a dominant big man; he’s a leader. But it’s not just Juju. Freshman Derik Queen proved he’s built for the moment, sinking the buzzer-beater that kept the Terps alive. Jahmir Young has been Maryland’s go-to scorer all season. The backcourt duo of DeShawn Harris-Smith and Ian Martinez has stepped up in big moments. This team is clicking at the right time.

But moving forward, they will have to remember that the Gators don’t just win—they dominate. Of their 32 wins, 25 have been by double digits. They’ve handled top-tier teams like Tennessee, Alabama, and Virginia with ease. Their balanced attack, led by Walter Clayton Jr., makes them a nightmare to defend. Clayton, a former Iona standout, has been a force, averaging 17.7 points per game while shooting nearly 40% from three. Against UConn, he showed his clutch gene, scoring eight of his 23 points in the final minutes.

Basketball

“Why UCLA’s Star Said No to the WNBA”

Angel Reese will have to wait another year to get revenge on Lauren Betts.

The 6-foot-7 junior is hoping to inspire No.1 seed UCLA to March Madness glory off the back of a first ever Big Ten Championship.

She could not have gotten off to a much better start.

In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Betts only needed to play 25 minutes as the Bruins breezed past the Southern Jaguars 84-46.

Richmond put up more of a fight on Sunday but couldn’t contain the rising star, who put up a historic 30 points and 14 rebounds in 32 minutes.

Betts is the first UCLA player ever to hit 30 with at least 10 boards and coach Cori Close gave her her flowers with a late substitution and standing ovation.

“She’s an absolute generational player … an elite player,” Close said. “She’s incredibly competitive. She affects the game in so many ways on both offense and defense. I mean the list goes on and on.

“The scouting report starts with Lauren every time. And so it’s really almost an impossible task [to guard her]. And our other players are the beneficiary of the attention that she draws every single night.”

“Lauren just makes the game easy for everyone on this team,” point guard Kiki Rice added.

“And I think her ability to shoulder so much weight and just do that on a consistent basis and show up for us every single day is something we really admire.”

Last year, the Bruins were beaten in the Sweet 16 stage by LSU.

At the end of the first quarter with the score at 15-15, former Tigers center Reese fought with Betts — one of few women who tower over the 6-foot-3 WNBA star — and came down without the ball.

Chicago Sky sophomore Reese ended up with a bloodied nose after being caught by the Bruins talisman’s elbow.

No foul was called but LSU had the last laugh as Reese finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds in a 78-69 victory.

The defending champion ended up losing to Caitlin Clark’s Iowa in the next round.

Reese followed No.1 pick Clark into the WNBA after Chicago selected her seventh overall and she went on to enjoy a strong rookie season.

Betts was projected to be a top-five pick if she declared for this year’s Draft but will stay in California instead as she eyes a family reunion.

Her sister Sienna — a 6-foot-4 high school standout — signed with the Bruins in November.

“College is the best years of your life, and so I don’t think I’d ever give that up,” Betts said. “Why not be spoiled for a whole another year?

“The way the coaches take care of us in this program, like, how comfortable I am here, and I think that the friendships I’ve created — I’d want to do that for another year.

“I want to win a national championship, obviously, if not this year, then obviously next year, but hopefully we could just do it both times.

“I think that I would be crazy if I gave up the opportunity to play with my sister, so obviously, I’m going to come back next year.”

Betts is averaging 20.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks this season after taking time off in January 2024 — two months before the defeat to LSU — to focus on her mental health.

“I got into a state, the lowest state I’ve ever felt in my entire life,” she told ESPN. “To a point where I was like, ‘I can’t be here. Like, I can’t be here. I can’t do life anymore.

I’m in my hospital gown, sitting in that bed, and I’m watching them play, and I’m like, ‘I can’t believe this is happening right now. That was a huge wake-up call for me. I was like, ‘I need help.’

“I have to put myself first. This is my life. Like, this is my health. It’s way bigger than basketball.”

After battling her demons, Betts is a different prospect this year.

The only team to beat UCLA this season is USC, who won the first two encounters between the powerhouses.

But in the Big Ten Championship finale, Betts and the Bruins came out on top of the Trojans, who are led by standout Juju Watkins.

“I don’t think you guys understand… I am so freaking proud of this team,” Betts said as confetti rained from the rafters. “We earned that game. We worked our butts off. We stayed together. We learned. We could have given up after we lost to them back-to-back.

We would not be denied this game. And I’m so freaking proud of everybody. This means so much to UCLA.”

With the gifted 21-year-old at the top of her game, few would bet against UCLA going all the way in 2025. When she links up with her sister, all Betts are off.

BOXING

“‘He’s a Monster’ – Jake Paul’s Big Admission”

JAKE PAUL has revealed the one “monster” boxer he will never fight.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer sent social media into a frenzy when he called out Anthony Joshua on his podcast.

And the two later shared a phone call and teased a shock fight in 2026 on their social media channels.

Paul made the callout while joined by former super-middleweight world champion David Benavidez – nicknamed the Mexican Monster.

The Arizona-born light-heavyweight is 30-0 with 24 knockouts and renowned for his dazzling speed and punch power.

So Paul had no problem admitting to Benavidez’s face that he would not go anywhere near fighting him.

He said: “(My manager) is talking about all these potential fights, and I’m like, ‘Yes, no,’ and the only no is you.

“I will not fight this f***ing guy, he’s a fucking monster. I’m just gonna f***ing die, bro. I know my boundaries.

“But here’s the thing, I want to fight Anthony Joshua – exclusive – because I know that I will f***ing beat Anthony Joshua’s ass.

“He doesn’t have a chin and he has no skill and he’s stiff. And I love you, Anthony, we’re friends, all this s***, but I want to fight you.

“I will beat Canelo, I will beat a lot of f***ing people, I will not beat David Benavidez. I would get torn up, bro. This guy is different. He’s different.”

Benavidez, 28, most recently beat David Morrell to win the interim WBC and WBA titles.

Paul, 28, meanwhile defeated Mike Tyson, 58, in his last bout but it was marred in controversy due to the age gap between them.

After the fight – which was viewed by more than 100MILLION on Netflix – Paul’s team opened the door to a potential AJ fight.

Paul weighed a career-heaviest 227lb (16st 2lb) for his eight-round points win over Tyson.

Joshua, 35, was 252.5lb (18st) for his September KO loss to Daniel Dubois meaning there is still a TWO STONE difference with Paul.

And promoter Eddie Hearn revealed AJ is board for the fight.

Hearn said: “To be honest, I look at it and I think Jake Paul against Anthony Joshua — for me, we’d do it for the banter.

“AJ would fight Jake Paul. He’d fight anyone to be honest with you. If Jake Paul wants to step up and fight Anthony Joshua, he’ll need the relevant insurance.

“The only thing that was disappointing was he says 2026. That’s like me saying, LA Olympics for the surfing in 2028, I’ll be there.’

“Do it in 2025 if you really want to do it. You’re not going to get really much better at this stage.

“I don’t know. Those two have spoken, I spoke to AJ this morning, he went, ‘Listen, of course I’d fight him.’

“[Joshua] said, ‘Why not?’ I said, ‘What do you want me to say when I’m asked about it?’

“He said, ‘Tell everyone I’ll fight anyone, any time, it’s not a problem for me.’”

BOXING

“Tears Flow After Jake Paul’s $1M Move”

Jake Paul has posted new footage of his proposal to Jutta Leerdam and it is believed he forked out $1 million for the engagement ring.

The pair have been together through the ups and downs of Paul’s boxing career so far, including his recent victory over Mike Tyson.

And this week ‘El Gallo’ announced that he and Leerdam were now engaged.

He posted a picture of himself proposing in front of a picturesque backdrop, on one knee with a ring in his hand.

But the American has now shared new footage of the moment he proposed.

The pair were seen both wiping tears away from their face with Paul clearly struggling to contain his emotion during the romantic moment.

Paul then embraced Leerdam as their engagement became official.

He wrote as the caption: “The most magical day of our lives, 03-21-25.”

During the moment, he presented Leerdam with a diamond ring, which is said to be worth close to $1 million.

It was examined by jewellery experts and believed to be ten-carat natural diamonds, which take the ring’s value to seven figures.

Paul and Leerdam have become huge names and regularly travel around the world to support each other’s careers.

Most recently he was present to support the Dutch star as she scooped three medals in the latest Speed Skating Single Distances Championship.

She will now have a busy year with marriage to Paul to come alongside her quest to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Paul himself is set to have a busy time in the boxing ring despite missing out on a huge showdown with Canelo Alvarez.

The ‘Problem Child’ has even held talks with Gervonta Davis over an exhibition but that will now likely be delayed.

In his most recent call-out, Paul decided to make an ambitious offer to face heavyweight Anthony Joshua.

The pair have held talks in a bizarre phone call, which could see a fight land in 2026.

And Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has refused to rule it out.

“To be honest, I look at it and I think Jake Paul against Anthony Joshua—for me, we’d do it for the banter,” he said.

“‘A.J.’ would fight Jake Paul. He’d fight anyone to be honest with you. If Jake Paul wants to step up and fight Anthony Joshua, he’ll need the relevant insurance.

“The only thing that was disappointing was he says 2026. That’s like me saying, ‘LA Olympics for the surfing in 2028, I’ll be there.’

BOXING

Joshua vs Paul: Unthinkable Ending

Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul has been teased to take place in 2026 – but we’ve already seen the outcome.

Joshua is a two-time heavyweight world champion who has achieved it all in the sport, but has yet to pencil in his next fight after losing to Daniel Dubois.

After beating heavyweight icon Mike Tyson in a huge event, YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul is after more big names.

He called out Joshua to a surprising clash, which would likely be a mega commercial event.

Paul insisted he could beat the hard-hitting Briton, despite his limited experience which would make him a huge underdog.

The pair then jumped on a phone call and hashed out a surprising plan for a fight, which they teased could take place next year.

But classic video game EA Sports Fight Night has already solved the outcome if the pair were to touch gloves.

Joshua stepped in carrying a huge size advantage over Paul, who stands five inches smaller.

And it was clear from the opening bell, as expected if the pair do meet, that Joshua was in control.

He used his size from the opening round and Paul was unable to close the distance at all.

The British powerhouse continued his domination through the second round before finding his breakthrough in the third period.

With 15 seconds of the stanza remaining, in a quite realistic outcome, Joshua detonated the trademark uppercut but with his left hand.

It crushed easily through the guard and dropped Paul flat on to his back.

Luckily he was able to climb to his feet and survive, despite likely never having felt that level of power before.

Unfortunately for Paul the onslaught continued, and in the sixth round Joshua dropped him again.

It was a body shot this time, which surprisingly appeared to hit his arm, but he collapsed to the canvas again.

He showed a quite remarkable level of ability to climb off the canvas, and it is unclear if he could do so in real life.

Paul was only in there matter of seconds as Joshua unloaded a huge right hook which sent Paul out cold.

He crashed to the canvas motionless and the referee counted before seeing that the fight was stopped.

Joshua celebrated wildly, perhaps too much so given their skill gap, but it was an easy win.

That is likely how many of the boxing fraternity would expect proceedings to pan out.

The former champion will be hugely confident of beating Paul, and if this outcome doesn’t unfold, it could be the biggest upset in boxing history.

Basketball

Gray, Reese Power The Rose!

As the last five seconds of the first half of Unrivaled’s final regular-season game between Rose BC and Vinyl counted down, Chelsea Gray danced around Dearica Hamby.

Gray jab-stepped to the top of the key, pulled back out and scooted to her right, narrowly avoiding Hamby. With a hand in her face, Gray rose up for a midrange jump shot.

As she fell to the ground, the ball fell through the hoop. Gray got up, looked at the crowd and licked her lips before calmly walking back to the Rose bench.

Heading into Unrivaled’s debut season, questions surrounded Gray: Would her defense be exposed? Would the foot injury that forced her out of the 2023 WNBA Finals and held her out the first 12 games of the 2024 season be an issue? And, as Gray put it, did she still have it?

To “quiet the noise,” she took it upon herself to prove that she does still have it. And performances like the one she had against Vinyl — Gray finished with eight 3-pointers and 33 points — demonstrated she hasn’t lost a beat.

Damn Chels, that’s a lot of 3s,” she said to herself after the game with a grin spreading across her face.

That approach of proving doubters wrong has been a common thread for Gray and her Rose teammates Kahleah Copper, Brittney Sykes, Azura Stevens and Lexie Hull on both a personal and team level.

After starting the season 1-4, the Rose rattled off a five-game win streak at the start of February — a stretch that included handing the league-leading Lunar Owls their only loss of the season — and finished the regular season winning seven of their final nine games.

Now they enter Sunday’s semifinals as one of the hottest teams in the league.

“I’m always the person who believes it’s not the way you start the season, it’s the way you finish it,” Gray said. “Midway through you want to start building those habits and chemistry and camaraderie. … I think that’s where we took a huge step forward. … You want to be playing your best basketball, no matter what, going into the playoffs.”

Seeded No. 2 in the playoffs, the Rose (8-6) will face the No. 3 Laces (7-7), with the winner advancing to Monday’s title game to face the winner of the other semifinal between the No. 1 Lunar Owls (13-1) and No. 4 Vinyl (5-9).

Each member of the title-winning club will earn an additional $50,000 in prize money on top of their Unrivaled salary.

Part of the Rose’s resurgence came behind Gray’s dominance — she scored at least 26 points in seven of the Rose’s final 10 games of the regular season, including a 38-point game to match a league high.

“I’m healthy,” Gray said. “That’s the biggest thing for me. Your body is your body of work when you are playing a sport. Then two, having the mindset to get back at it … coming in here with the mindset of trying to get better every single time you play.”

Another part has been her growing chemistry with Angel Reese and Reese’s overall development over the Unrivaled season.

Like Gray, Reese had a point to make when she arrived in Miami. Coming off what she called a “disappointing” rookie season that ended early after an injury to her left wrist, Reese wanted to get healthy and grow her game.

She wanted to show that she could continue to dominate the boards while expanding her offensive repertoire. And she wanted to avoid her game being labeled as one-dimensional.

“Looking down the long road, sometimes I think, ‘How many years am I going to be able to get these double-doubles and all these rebounds,'” Reese said. “I continue taking shots, risky shots I guess, and shots that people don’t expect me to take. This league, you want to win and play the right way, but work on things that lead into the WNBA season.”

She has spent a lot of time working with WNBA great Lisa Leslie, who told Reese that the Rose and Chicago Sky player is the “2.0” version of her.

The Sky had a young roster in 2024, and without veteran teammates to guide her in the WNBA, Reese sought out extra time with Gray and fellow Rose teammate Kahleah Copper in Miami.

Reese finished the regular season leading the league in rebounds, averaging 12.1 per game. She recorded eight double-doubles, including a 22-point, 21-rebound game — the first 20-20 performance in Unrivaled history — against the Lunar Owls on Feb. 21.

“Being here at Unrivaled has been the best thing for me,” Reese said.

Basketball

Angel Reese’s Shocking News!

Reese’s brother was snubbed for a notable award

Basketball

Reese Joins WNBA Stars in Bold Demand!

Reese is among the most vocal players arguing for better treatment in the WNBA

MORE WNBA players are joining Angel Reese’s stance on opting out of the league’s current CBA.

Reese has made it known that WNBA players could go on strike if salaries aren’t raised in the league.

The WNBA recently opted out of its collective bargaining agreement, meaning it will expire at the end of this season instead of 2027.

WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson released a statement about this decision last October.

“The players made the decision to opt out of the last CBA to realign the business and save the league from its own limitations,” she said.

“With a stronger foundation and new investments flowing in, they’re opting out again – this time to fully professionalize the league, secure proper wages, improve working conditions and lock in meaningful benefits.”

Players are using this opportunity to further advance the treatment of players in the league, and Reese has been among the most vocal.

However, others like Nnekaa Ogwumike are starting to speak up as well.

Reese posted a statement that Ogwumike made about the CBA on her Instagram Story on Wednesday.

“Opting out [of the current CBA] isn’t just about bigger paychecks,” Ogwumike said.

“It’s about claiming our rightful share of the business we’ve built, improving working conditions, and securing a future where the success we create benefits today’s players and the generations to come.

“We’re not just asking for a CBA that reflects our value; we’re demanding it, because we’ve earned it.”

There are several points of contention within the WNBA Players Association, but Reese has been the most vocal about pay.

She shared her opinion about this on the Unapologetically Angel podcast.

“I need to be in the (players’ union) meetings because I’m hearing that if (the league) don’t give us what we want, we’re sitting out,” she said.

“That’s a possibility, for real,” guest Dijonani Carrington said.

The statement got a strong response on social media, but Reese was ready to fire back with a response.

WNBA All-Star rosters

THE 2024 WNBA All-Star game rosters have been announced, with Team WNBA set to face Team USA on July 20.

Team WNBA:

DeWanna Bonner – Connecticut Sun
Aliyah Boston – Indiana Fever
Caitlin Clark – Indiana Fever
Allisha Gray – Atlanta Dream
Dearica Hamby – Los Angeles Sparks
Brionna Jones – Connecticut Sun
Jonquel Jones – New York Liberty
Kayla McBride – Minnesota Lynx
Kelsey Mitchell – Indiana Fever
Arike Ogunbowale – Dallas Wings
Nneka Ogwumike – Seattle Storm
Angel Reese – Chicago Sky

Team USA:

Napheesa Collier – Minnesota Lynx
Kahleah Copper – Phoenix Mercury
Chelsea Gray – Las Vegas Aces
Brittney Griner – Phoenix Mercury
Sabrina Ionescu – New York Liberty
Jewell Loyd – Seattle Storm
Kelsey Plum – Las Vegas Aces
Breanna Stewart – New York Liberty
Diana Taurasi – Phoenix Mercury
Alyssa Thomas – Connecticut Sun
A’ja Wilson – Las Vegas Aces
Jackie Young – Las Vegas Aces

“I said, ‘I’m hearing if they don’t give us what we want, we sitting out.’ And that’s the truth,” she said.

“I never said anything about the NBA. We are prepared to stay at the negotiating table for as long as it takes.

“Here’s the link to my podcast so you can hear the conversation too.

“I will continue to use my voice to speak for what WE want & deserve as a league. Thank ya.”

CELEB NEWS

Clark vs. Reese: Media Makes Its Choice!

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese are undoubtedly two of the biggest names in women’s sports today. Ever since they made it to the WNBA, the two young stars have been making headlines on and off the court.

The two have also been often pitted against each other, thanks to their rivalry that started in their collegiate days.

Clark has been viewed as the more impactful player, and she has the numbers to back it up. According to a recent Los Angeles Times report, the Fever playmaker was responsible for 26.5 percent of the league’s revenue in 2024.

Reese, for her part, has been really active on social media and continues to use her popularity to grow her personal brand. She boasts a combined 10.7 million followers across X, Instagram and TikTok, all while getting several endorsement deals.

While there’s a debate about who is more influential between the two, a major publication settled the argument with its list.

Sheryl Swoopes hypes up Angel Reese amid the heated ROY race with Caitlin Clark.

Complex released its rankings of the most influential stars in women’s sports today, and interestingly, Caitlin Clark came out on top of it.

“Clark’s impact is undeniable,” Complex wrote. “Her presence alone boosts WNBA attendance by 105% compared to games without her, while road games featuring her Indiana Fever see an 87% increase in opponent home attendance. Her rookie debut sparked a staggering 200% jump in WNBA viewership, while Fever home games drew a league-high 186,000 fans last season, a 265% increase from 2023. Team uniform sales (of which Clark’s regularly sells out) skyrocketed by an astonishing 1,193% year-over-year.”

The publication also noted how Clark “has transformed the perception of women’s basketball,” helping develop the WNBA into a “revenue-driving powerhouse.”

As for Angel Reese, she came second behind the Fever sharpshooter. Complex highlighted her work and ventures on and off the court, as well as her status as the “most-followed WNBA player on Instagram.”

“Reese competed in the inaugural Unrivaled season and is a part-owner of DC Power FC in the USL Super League. Off the court, the Angel C. Reese Foundation empowers young girls through sports, education, and financial literacy,” the ranking stated.

Other WNBA players who made the list were A’ja Wilson (No. 5), Sabrina Ionescu (No. 6) and Cameron Brink (No. 8). Clearly, however, the level of impact Clark has had on the WNBA is unprecedented, regardless of how much her critics try to downplay it.

Basketball

Clark vs. Reese? Legend Sets Record Straight!

When Cheryl Miller speaks, you listen.

The Hall of Famer went on Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson’s podcast, All The Smoke, and cleared the air on a couple of false narratives that surrounded Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 02: Angel Reese #10 of the LSU Lady Tigers reacts towards Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the fourth quarter during the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament championship game at American Airlines Center on April 02, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Rivals? Sure.

Enemies? Not even close.

Miller coached the two WNBA stars in their first All-Star game last season.

Clark and Reese were teammates for the game, and got along with one another quite well, according to Miller.

Arguably the greatest women’s college basketball player of all time, also opened up about relating to the spotlight that Clark constantly has on her.

And all the hate that is consistently thrown her way.

“I’m gonna be honest because it needs to be said, I can relate to that young lady and I felt for her,” Miller said referring to the Indiana Fever star.

“I know what it’s like to be hated.

“I know what it’s like to be a black woman and hated because of my color.

PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 20: Caitlin Clark #22 and Angel Reese #5 of Team WNBA high five during the game against the USA Basketball Women's National Team during the 2024 WNBA All Star Game on July 20, 2024 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images)

Clark and Reese are heading into their second year in the WNBA

“I can’t imagine this young lady, I don’t wanna use hate, but despised.

“She brought some on herself a little bit because she’s cocky for a good reason and I love that about her.

“But to watch the dynamics and the media, they had their narrative.

“And I was pleased and proud to see the narrative wasn’t the truth.

“Angel and her got along so well.

“Watching them practice… I didn’t know how talented she was and how well she sees the game in a 3D version, thinker, and defensively a lot better than I thought and gave her credit for.”

PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 20: Caitlin Clark #22 and Angel Reese #5 of Team WNBA high five during the 2024 WNBA All Star Game at Footprint Center on July 20, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Dylan Goodman/NBAE via Getty Images)

The narrative that surrounded Clark and Reese was that they hated one another and had bad blood.

The two of them have each gone on the record to dismiss those claims, but the media has still pushed it.

And they have pushed an even stronger narrative on Clark being the savior of the WNBA.

Specifically the ‘white-savior’ of the league.

And while there’s no denying Clark’s popularity and financial impact she has already had on the league, it would be irresponsible to dismiss the rest of the players of the WNBA, more importantly the black players.

They were the ones that built this league. Clark is helping to grow it.

Both things can be true, without all the animosity and angst that comes with it, due to the media trying to paint a certain picture.

But like Miller said: “The narrative wasn’t the truth.”