Angel Reese was at her absolute best on Thursday night, helping the Atlanta Dream get a crucial 108-101 win over the Indiana Fever. Reese recorded 21 points and 11 rebounds, especially when Atlanta needed her most. She made a crucial layup and knocked down a free throw with 23 seconds remaining to help secure the Dream’s 10th win of the season.
Following the game, former NBA All-Star Joe Johnson appeared on the Nightcap Show with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, where he discussed the growing impact of Reese and Fever star Caitlin Clark on the WNBA.
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Joe Johnson Claims Angel Reese And Caitlin Clark Are Changing The WNBA
Johnson praised both young stars for helping transform the league’s popularity and visibility.
“Since Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark has came into the WNBA, they’ve changed the trajectory of the way the league is being seen,” Johnson said.
He explained that the pair has attracted new fans and brought enormous attention to women’s basketball.
“They’ve changed the way people look at them, view them,” Johnson added. “That’s why it’s hard for me to process when I see these girls being jealous of these girls. It’s like, bro, they helping everybody out.”
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Johnson made those comments after another exciting game between Reese and Clark. Both players had strong games after all, as Clark scored 26 points for Indiana, while Reese recorded a double-double and came up with several good plays late in the game.
Shannon Sharpe Praises Reese’s Championship-Level Impact
Sharpe shifted the conversation toward Reese’s style of play and the winning qualities she brings to the Dream.
“She’s gonna dominate the glass. She is a hustle, hustle player,” Sharpe said. While acknowledging that Reese’s offensive game is still developing, Sharpe emphasized that her relentless effort makes her the type of player championship teams need.
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“Is she gonna look like, does she have the prettiest shot? No,” Sharpe said. “But she’s the type of person that you could win a championship with because she’s gonna give you so many opportunities on the offensive end.”
Sharpe also highlighted Reese’s consistency on the offensive boards.”She coming out of the game every night with somewhere between three to five offensive rebounds every single night,” he added.
Reese proved these remarks right against Indiana. When the Fever erased a double-digit lead and tied the game in the fourth quarter, she stayed calm and made a good comeback.
Later, Sharpe compared the Reese-Clark rivalry to the historic dynamic between NBA legends Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, noting how both rivalries first captured national attention during college basketball’s biggest games.
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“When Bird and Magic Johnson got to the NBA, it was a story, a very compelling story,” Sharpe said.
“Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark come. Boom, boom. Perfect. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese played a national championship game, and here we go. So we have a very, very compelling storyline to embrace.”
The two teams will meet again on Saturday, putting all the attention back on Reese and Clark.
