"Trying to pit Angel & Caitlin against each other" - Ex-WNBA champ accuses "keyboard warriors" of stirring animosity between RoTY contenders

Former WNBA champion and basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman claimed attempts by some fans online to create a rivalry between Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, which has caused some to overlook Clark’s skill.

In her appearance on "The Stephen A. Smith Show," Lieberman, the first woman to play in a men’s basketball league, said the two standout rookies are actually friends.

She said "keyboard warriors" have been targeting Clark and that the fabricated rivalry has hindered the recognition of Clark’s talent.

“If you're talking about the keyboard warriors, who hide behind their 280 (characters) ... First of all, they don't even realize that the players in this league are friends with one another. So you might sit there and try to create this animosity, or you might try to bring in well, racism and this, and there's no racism,” she said.

“They're trying to pit Angel and Caitlin against each other. They're friends, by the way, they're helping grow the sport.”

(Watch Lieberman's comments starting at the 22:15 mark below)

Caitlin Clark, who averages 18.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 8.4 assists this season for the surging Fever, has faced fierce criticism early in her career. For instance, WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes has repeatedly downplayed her impact on the Fever and excluded her when listing the team’s most impactful players.

She does, however, have one of her strongest supporters in Smith, who has consistently defended her and praised her on his show.

Beyond breaking rookie assist and shooting records, Caitlin Clark is also making history by drawing significant viewership. The Fever recently announced that over 500,000 fans watched their first 31 games, the highest in WNBA history.

Stephen A. Smith crowns Caitlin Clark as the Rookie of the Year

The WNBA season extends until later this month, but Stephen A. Smith has already declared his pick for Rookie of the Year: Caitlin Clark.

“The Rookie of the Year race is over. She ended that Friday night—not that she wasn't in the lead to begin with—but she ended that Friday night when she dropped 31 on the Chicago Sky when they were blowing them out,” he said.

Clark’s 31 points marked a career high, achieved against Angel Reese and the Sky in Chicago.

“Angel Reese is no longer a Rookie of the Year potential winner. That's over. It's going to Caitlin Clark. Let's get that out the way,” Smith stated.

Reese averages 13.3 points and 13.1 rebounds per game for the Sky, who have lost six straight as the playoffs approach.