Angel Reese reignites the debate with Caitlin Clark: Dan Patrick compares her to Moses Malone and fans are already talking about Giannis
Atlanta Dream star is having the best moment of her career in the WNBA Finals. Dan Patrick praised her toughness, but questioned her offensive repertoire, and social media responded with an even bigger comparison.
The discussion between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark seemed to have lost momentum as the season went on, but Reese's first WNBA Finals have once again put the two stars face to face. This time, Clark didn't even need to be on the court.
Journalist Dan Patrick reopened the debate by referring to Reese’s spectacular run with the Atlanta Dream and rejecting the idea that her results prove that she is already a better player than Clark . For Patrick, they are two completely different talents, although his analysis of Angel’s offensive game sparked an immediate reaction among fans by putting her on a par with Moses Malone.
The media rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark is resurfacing even when one of them is not on the court. Reese is playing in her first WNBA Finals with the Atlanta Dream, and her performance has reignited a comparison that has followed both players for more than two years.
Dan Patrick sees Angel Reese as a new Moses Malone
Patrick has described Reese as a “relentless” player, that is, tireless , and found in Moses Malone a reference to explain her style.
The comparison is not focused so much on technique as on the way of competing. Malone built much of his dominance around rebounds, points from second chances, and his ability to impose himself physically near the rim.
That profile also defines a good part of Reese's game. The Atlanta star may not have the offensive repertoire of other great scorers, but her impact does not depend solely on shooting. She rebounds, attacks the rim, and keeps constant pressure on the opposing defense.
And in these Finals she is taking that formula to another level.
Reese delivers in the Finals and Atlanta takes the lead
After posting 30 points and 16 rebounds in the second game, Reese delivered again in the third matchup.
The player finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals, shooting 7 of 12 from the field, to help Atlanta defeat Golden State 97-71. The win put the Dream ahead 2-1 in the series.
In addition, Reese recorded a double-double for the third consecutive game in the Finals. At 24 years old, she became the youngest player in WNBA history to achieve three consecutive double-doubles in a championship series.
Social media takes the comparison all the way to Giannis
The comparison with Moses Malone opened another door on social media. Some fans began using the name of Giannis Antetokounmpo to describe Reese's evolution, especially because of her combination of size, physical power, attacking the rim, and ability to influence different aspects of the game.
That does not mean there is a direct comparison between the two players. For now, it is a reaction from fans to Reese's development and the way she is playing in the Finals.
What is evident, however, is that her game is generating a different conversation from that of her first months in the WNBA. It is no longer only about whether she can compete with Caitlin Clark in an individual discussion.
Reese now has an opportunity of her own: to lead Atlanta to its first WNBA championship. And after three games, the Dream are just two wins away from achieving it.
