“Fighting for 1B position behind Angel Reese” – Patrick Beverley stunned as podcast cohost sparks wild Caitlin Clark–Paige Bueckers debate
Patrick Beverley is never short on hot takes, but even the outspoken NBA veteran was caught off guard when a recent episode of his Pat Bev Pod veered into an unexpected women’s basketball debate.
The conversation began with Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky rookie who has already established herself as one of the league’s most marketable young stars. Reese’s rebounding dominance, double-double consistency, and outspoken personality have made her a headline fixture in 2024. Beverley’s cohost suggested that Reese has already claimed the “1A” spot in terms of attention and cultural presence within women’s basketball.
But it was the follow-up question that stunned Beverley. His cohost floated the idea that the true battle isn’t for the top spot, but for the second—with Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers “fighting for 1B” status behind Reese.
Beverley raised his eyebrows and leaned back, stunned at the framing. “Wait, you’re saying Clark—who just broke college scoring records—is behind Reese in this conversation?” he asked, emphasizing Clark’s historic offensive output at Iowa and her immediate impact with the Indiana Fever.
The cohost doubled down, arguing that Reese’s charisma, national championship moment at LSU, and growing fashion and media presence give her an edge in visibility. Meanwhile, Paige Bueckers—despite missing time with injury—remains a fan favorite thanks to her silky scoring ability and UConn pedigree.
Beverley acknowledged both players’ talent but questioned whether anyone could realistically overshadow Clark’s generational shooting range and television draw. “That girl [Clark] changes arenas,” Beverley said. “You can’t teach that.”
The exchange sparked a lively online debate, with fans taking sides over whether the hierarchy of women’s basketball stardom is best measured by stats, wins, or cultural resonance.
One thing was clear: Beverley may have been stunned, but the conversation underscored just how mainstream women’s hoops discourse has become—where Reese, Clark, and Bueckers are all household names in their own right.
