Fox Sports host Joy Taylor doubles down on a controversial claim about Caitlin Clark’s fame being dependent on Angel Reese—and gets roasted by fans, stats, and even her own podcast guests in a viral moment of secondhand embarrassment.
When Joy Taylor took to the Joe Budden Podcast recently, no one expected her to make one of the coldest takes in recent sports media memory. But that’s exactly what happened. With a straight face and unwavering confidence, the Fox Sports host declared that “we wouldn’t be talking about Caitlin Clark the way we do if it wasn’t for Angel Reese.”
What followed was a tidal wave of disbelief—from fans, from analysts, and even from her own fellow guests, who looked visibly uncomfortable trying to support the narrative. The sports world erupted with laughter, not because the claim was funny, but because it was so painfully divorced from reality.
Let’s break down the facts.
Clark received over 515,000 All-Star votes, while Reese barely cracked the top 15. When their respective teams played the same opponent, the disparity in national TV ratings was staggering: the Fever vs. Liberty drew 2.2 million viewers. The Sky? Just 60,000.
If Angel Reese were truly the one elevating Clark’s fame, these numbers wouldn’t just be different—they’d be reversed. The myth that Reese was the catalyst for Clark’s popularity crumbles under every measurable metric. Jersey sales, social media engagement, ticket revenue—Clark is leagues ahead.
Taylor then doubled down, comparing their college encounter to the Magic-Bird rivalry, framing Reese as a transformative villain to Clark’s heroine. But Magic and Bird were both elite talents with mutual impact. Clark and Reese? One is in MVP conversations; the other is struggling with 30% shooting and empty seats at home games.
Worse yet, Taylor made it about race, claiming that Clark’s fame grew because “white men were upset to see a strong Black woman in their savior’s face.” That framing didn’t just fall flat—it actively ignored the fact that Clark was already breaking viewership records before the LSU game, and that many Black stars like A’ja Wilson are massively respected and supported without stirring racial controversy.
Fans were quick to point out that even Reese’s return to LSU for a homecoming game couldn’t fill half the arena. Meanwhile, Clark continues to sell out venues across the country. Merchandise sales? Clark’s jerseys are flying off shelves nationwide. Reese’s? A niche following at best.
Even YouTube and social media analytics back this up. Channels built around Clark are booming; Reese-themed content struggles to gain traction. On an international level, Clark has become the face of American women’s basketball. Foreign media, coaches, and fans mention her name. Reese, not so much.
The numbers don’t lie. But Joy Taylor clearly wasn’t interested in numbers. She was clinging to a narrative. A dramatic one. A socially charged one. And one that has now become the punchline of a very public and very brutal backlash.
Even Joe Budden’s crew started squirming during the podcast, backing away in real time from Taylor’s hot take as she declared, “I will die on this hill.” Well, the internet was more than happy to help dig the grave.
Now, every future Joy Taylor basketball opinion is likely to come with an asterisk. Fans and critics alike will remember the moment she claimed a generational star owed her popularity to a struggling role player. It’s not just a bad take—it’s a case study in how sports media can sometimes prioritize narrative over truth.
In the end, Caitlin Clark doesn’t need Angel Reese to be a star. But Joy Taylor might need a serious reality check to keep her credibility intact.
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