Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese might drive headlines and viewership, but their rivalry is one that doesn't really make sense in terms of the positions they play and the skills they each bring to their team.
But Caitlin Clark and Rhyne Howard? That's a very different story.
@ufmtv_ The real WNBA rivalry 🔥🏀#caitlinclark #rhynehoward #basketball #wnba #womensbasketball #wbb ♬ Punch D - CanonCable
Fans noticed the energy between the pair during the Fever's recent game against the Dream, when Clark was caught telling Howard, "I'm not scared of you." It turns out the pair's relationship goes back to high school, when they were both on the U19 Team USA squad alongside Hailey Van Lith and Paige Bueckers.
As basketball commentator UFM TV noted in a video shared on X and TikTok, the real rivalry is between these two.
Both athletes were number one draft picks for their respective teams, and both are clearly more than comfortable getting chippy on the court. And, perhaps most interesting of all, it appears they're more than good friends when they meet up before games — all elements that make this rivalry compelling, more equal, and potentially more fun for fans at home.