Former NCAA stars and current WNBA rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese continue to make their presence known on and off the court. After being the first two rookies nominated to the WNBA All-Star game, they have now been added to a new prestigious list.

 

Sports Illustrated has released its annual “power list” which includes athletes, figures, and executives in the sports world. The list contains 50 names the publication deems as the most influential figures in sports, and both Clark and Reese have made the list under athletes.

According to Sports Illustrated writer Kristen Nelsen:

“Since being drafted No. 7 by the Sky in April, Reese has gone from Bayou Barbie to WNBA All-Star, making a strong case for Rookie of the Year along the way. The 6’ 3″ forward has already turned in a historic season. She set a league record for most consecutive double-doubles (15), and became the first WNBA rookie to record back-to-back 20-rebound games (a feat not seen at the pro level since fellow LSU alum Shaquille O’Neal did it in April 1993 as an NBA rookie).”

ALBANY, NEW YORK – APRIL 01: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Angel Reese #10 of the LSU Tigers during the finals of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament – Albany Regional at MVP… Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Sports Illustrated writer Clare Brennan added the segment for Clark:

“Buzz to that degree could overwhelm even the most poised of players, but Clark has stayed the course. Growing into her pro career, the young star has shown she isn’t just a shooter with style, but also a hooper with substance, breaking the WNBA rookie assist record 28 games into her career. For all that’s swirling around Clark, perhaps what’s most impressive is her commitment to always bringing it back to the main thing: basketball.”

There is no denying both of their contributions to women’s basketball. Ever since Clark emerged as a star at the NCAA level, she continually held the spotlight for the Iowa Hawkeyes. At the end of her collegiate career, Clark left as the highest scorer in basketball history.

Reese helped lead the LSU Tigers win a National Title in 2022, establishing herself as one of the most dominant defensive players in the NCAA. The game was against the Hawkeyes and began the “rivalry” between Reese and Clark.

Fast forward to the WNBA, and both continue to make a massive impact. In preparation for Clark’s arrival, teams were moving their games with the Indiana Fever to bigger stadiums to prepare for sold-out crowds.

Reese made it a point to remind the world that Clark wasn’t the only one that people were showing up to see. Though the rivalry between the pair began to take form, both just let their skill on the court do the talking following that.

Clark set records like most assists in a game and secured the single-season scoring record for a rookie and so much more. Reese also notched her own records like most consecutive double-doubles in league history, surpassing WNBA legend Candace Parker. She also secured the most rebounds in a season with 446.

 

Unfortunately, Reese suffered a season-ending wrist injury and had to cut her rookie season short. Clark and Reese were the front runners for Rookie of the Year, but that award will now go to Clark.

Both Clark and Reese have made a massive impact on the WNBA and women’s basketball as a whole. Fans have already tuned into how special both young women are, and expect them to go toe-to-toe for the foreseeable future.

For more on Clark and Reese, head to Newsweek Sports.