Angel Reese’s reaction to a recent Forbes ranking exploded across social media, with many users saying she is “losing her mind” after Forbes declared Caitlin Clark one of the most powerful figures in sports this year, leaving Reese off the list entirely.
Forbes published its annual list of the most powerful women in sports, ranking Caitlin Clark fourth overall, above billionaire owners and global CEOs, an unprecedented achievement for an active college athlete just beginning her career on the world stage and in the marketplace.
Clark’s appearance on the Forbes list has shocked fans and analysts alike, as she is listed alongside executives who control massive sports empires, media networks, and franchise portfolios, cementing her influence beyond the basketball court and into the broader business and cultural sphere.
Despite Reese’s dominant presence in the WNBA and at LSU, Forbes did not include her among the ten most powerful women in sports, a decision that fans quickly turned into a flashpoint of debate, anger, and heated opinions online.
The financial implications of the ranking further fueled controversy, as Forbes reported Clark made 115 times her collegiate salary last year through endorsement deals, licensing, and partnerships, a figure that dwarfs Reese’s reported earnings and financial impact in the same period.
For many observers, the stark contrast between Clark’s financial ascendancy and Reese’s current earnings highlights a deeper discussion about opportunity, visibility, marketability, and the rapidly changing economics of women’s basketball at every level.
One trending clip showed Reese responding to the Forbes list during an interview, visibly frustrated and dismissing the ranking altogether, igniting thousands of retweets and reactions that ranged from supportive messages to harsh criticism over her response.
Clark’s supporters praised the Forbes decision as recognition of her global impact, pointing to her unprecedented television ratings, merchandise sales, and social media engagement as clear evidence that her influence transcends sport and reaches into mainstream culture.
Critics of the Forbes ranking called it premature, suggesting that placing an athlete with limited professional experience above seasoned executives and owners diminished the true meaning of influence and power in elite sports business circles.
Reese supporters fired back, arguing that her own accomplishments—WNBA Rookie of the Year, NCAA Champion, and cultural icon—deserve equal recognition and that Forbes’ metric system unfairly favored financial reach over athletic achievement and leadership.
The financial gap between Clark and Reese became a central talking point, with analysts breaking down how Clark’s NIL earnings, sponsorship deals, and promotional contracts allowed her to eclipse income benchmarks rarely seen even among professional athletes.
Industry insiders explained that Clark’s marketability stems partly from her record-breaking collegiate career, record TV viewership, and generational appeal, which combined to generate a financial ecosystem that immediately attracted top global brands and opportunities disproportionately fast.
Reese, meanwhile, has been celebrated for her on-court prowess and personality, but experts claim that the WNBA’s smaller market size and limited endorsement pool compared to international leagues has constrained immediate earning potential for players still in early stages.
Some sports business analysts argue that Reese’s brand is poised for exponential growth, pointing to her charismatic presence, social media savvy, and strong fan loyalty, factors that could lift her financial footprint significantly in coming years.
Still, the narrative around “ultimate proof the rivalry is over” gained traction, as social media users framed the Forbes decision and financial statistics as definitive evidence Clark now sits above Reese not just in statistics but in broader influence.
Others cautioned against framing the discussion as a definitive end to their rivalry, noting that both athletes operate on different career timelines and that direct comparisons may overlook individual contexts, aspirations, and future achievements.
The conversation also tapped into larger societal debates about how female athletes are valued, marketed, and monetized in modern sports culture, particularly when compared with male counterparts and traditional celebrity power structures.
Some commentators praised Forbes for recognizing an emerging athlete’s reach, citing Clark’s unusually rapid climb as a watershed moment for how young stars can leverage digital media and modern marketing tools to accelerate influence.
Reese’s absence from the list, conversely, was seen by some as a reflection of deeper systemic issues in sports finance, including unequal opportunities for female athletes in certain markets and slower brand adoption for women’s professional leagues.
A number of former athletes weighed in, noting that influence and power can manifest in diverse ways beyond financial metrics, including community impact, mentorship, representation, and long-term contributions to sport culture.
Fans continued dissecting the stunning numbers, sharing graphics and statistics comparing Clark’s financial multipliers to Reese and other elite players, further fueling a viral spread of commentary across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X.
For Clark, the Forbes ranking has been celebrated, positioned as validation of her astronomical rise and symbolic of the growing commercial interest in women’s sports figures whose appeal transcends traditional audiences.
Public reactions ranged from awe to skepticism, with debate moderators and sports columnists dissecting whether financial influence should trump competitive accomplishments when assessing power within the sports hierarchy.
Reese, for her part, remains a dominant force on the court and continues to engage with fans through social media commentary, community events, and athletic performance that consistently ranks among the best in her league.
As the discussion shows no signs of letting up, many sports watchers question how future rankings will account for expanding financial landscapes, new contractual freedoms, and evolving definitions of influence for athletes at every level.
Ultimately, the shockwaves from the Forbes bombshell have sparked conversations about value, visibility, cultural impact, and the business of sport, with Clark and Reese at the heart of what may be a defining narrative in women’s athletics.
