"They end up getting private planes now" - Magic Johnson endorses Caitlin Clark & Angel Reese as new era's version of him & Larry Bird

Magic Johnson shared his thoughts on the impact Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have made on the WNBA in only one season with the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever, respectively. The five-time NBA champion joined Joy Taylor, Paul Pierce and Keyshawn Johnson during Wednesday's edition of FOX Sports' "Speak" show to talk about this "rivalry."

After Taylor asked Johnson about the comparisons between himself and Larry Bird to Clark and Reese, the LA Lakers legend praised them for shining in college and then doing the same at a professional level while making an impact on young players.

“I love it because to your point, they dominated in college…and then they brought it over to the WNBA, just like we brought it to the NBA,” Johnson said. “We changed the NBA. They changed the WNBA. And now everything that these young ladies have been fighting for, they’re about to get, right?

More than that, he celebrated the new benefits that WNBA teams got this season and they will get in the future.

“They end up getting private planes now. They’re gonna get more money in terms of salary because of the new collective bargaining agreement that the NBA and WNBA did together. So, it’s just amazing the way they were able to go around arenas across the country and sell ’em out, and little girls are now dreamin’ about being like Caitlin, like Angel and others.” (19:58 mark)

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have been going at it for a hot minute, starting in high school before continuing in college where they even played for a national championship that Reese's LSU won. Now, they clash in the WNBA with the Sky and the Fever.

Caitlin Clark shared her thoughts on supposed rivalry with Angel Reese

Last week, during her interview with Sean Gregory for TIME Magazine, Caitlin Clark spoke about all the things said regarding her relationship (or lack thereof) with Angel Reese. She was cordial about it, saying that they don't have anything but respect for one another.

“I don’t get that at all,” Clark said. “We’re not best friends, by any means, but we’re very respectful of one another. Yes, we have had tremendous battles. But when have I ever guarded her? And when has she guarded me?

It seems like comparisons will inevitably keep happening, but both players have shut down the negative narratives, offering praise for each other after several years of competition.