A reality check from the WNBA Finals: Can Angel Reese no longer be placed on the same level as Caitlin Clark?

Angel Reese's impressive 2026 campaign ended in disappointment, and her performances during the WNBA Finals have reignited the debate surrounding her standing compared with Caitlin Clark.

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has now weighed in, questioning whether Reese deserves to be discussed in the same category as the Indiana Fever superstar.

Speaking on Monday's episode of Wake Up Barstool, Portnoy openly acknowledged his support for Clark before delivering a harsh assessment of Reese's performances in Atlanta's championship defeat against the Golden State Valkyries.

The Dream initially appeared poised to capture the championship after taking a 2-1 series advantage. However, Golden State recovered to win the series 4-3, claiming the title. Reese's declining offensive production became a major talking point as Atlanta struggled to finish the job.

She was outstanding during the opening three games, averaging 21.7 points and 13.3 rebounds while shooting 56.4% from the field. Her production subsequently dropped considerably, with Reese averaging just 9.5 points and shooting 26.7% over the final four contests. She also committed 4.8 turnovers per game during that stretch.

Reese managed only eight points in both Games 4 and 7, while recording seven points in Game 5. Although she bounced back with 15 points and 14 rebounds in Game 6 to help Atlanta force a deciding contest, her offensive struggles returned when the championship was on the line.

"She is a very loud talker when things are going well," Portnoy said. "You can sculpt this any way you want. In the last three losses that they had, she didn’t show up at all.

“Not even a little bit. Not even a tiny bit. ... She made the Finals, congrats, but she lost them the Finals. There’s absolutely no other way to extrapolate this.

Dave Portnoy identifies the moment that changed the series

Portnoy also pointed towards Reese's animated celebrations during Atlanta's Game 3 victory as a possible turning point. Following the Dream's convincing 97-71 win, Reese was visibly confident, having recorded 21 points and 12 rebounds.

According to Portnoy , the celebrations and confidence after taking a 2-1 lead made the subsequent collapse particularly striking. He suggested that Atlanta's momentum disappeared when Golden State began responding. He also praised Gabby Williams , who earned Finals MVP honors, for her spectacular performances throughout the series.

However, Reese's disappointing finish shouldn't erase everything she accomplished throughout the season. She averaged 16.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals during the regular season, earning Defensive Player of the Year recognition, an All-WNBA Second Team selection and All-Defensive First Team honors.

The forward also helped Atlanta reach its first Finals since 2013, an achievement worth recognizing despite the heartbreaking conclusion. Reese expressed gratitude towards her teammates after the defeat, insisting that the Dream would return stronger.

Meanwhile, Reese has announced plans to step away from her podcasts during the offseason, explaining that she's dedicating the break to herself. She'll use the time to recover and prepare for another championship push.