Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese Shine as Top Influential Athletes on Elite Power List

Former NCAA stars and current WNBA rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese continue to leave their mark on and off the court. After both were selected as the first two rookies for the WNBA All-Star game, they’ve now been recognized on an even larger stage.

Sports Illustrated recently released its annual “Power List,” featuring the 50 most influential figures in the sports world, and both Clark and Reese earned spots under the athletes’ category. According to Sports Illustrated writer Kristen Nelsen, Angel Reese, drafted No. 7 by the Chicago Sky, has made a historic case for Rookie of the Year. She set the record for most consecutive double-doubles (15) and became the first WNBA rookie to post back-to-back 20-rebound games since Shaquille O’Neal’s 1993 NBA rookie season.

Meanwhile, Clare Brennan highlighted Caitlin Clark’s remarkable transition into the WNBA, where she has broken the league’s rookie assist record just 28 games in. Despite the buzz surrounding her, Clark has maintained her focus on basketball, showcasing her impressive substance on the court as much as her style.

Both Clark and Reese have significantly elevated women’s basketball. Clark became the highest scorer in NCAA history, while Reese helped lead LSU to a National Title in 2022, beginning what many saw as a growing rivalry between the two. Their dominance carried into the WNBA, where Clark continued breaking records and Reese established herself as a defensive powerhouse, surpassing Candace Parker’s consecutive double-doubles record.

Although Reese’s rookie season was cut short by a wrist injury, her impact, alongside Clark’s, has been profound. While Clark is now the clear frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, the two young stars are expected to continue shaping the future of the WNBA. Fans eagerly anticipate their next face-off.