For me, the year 2020 presents an alchemy of highlights and the lights.

The pandemic and the ensuing shutdown of the country were alarming, yet simultaneously,

there was this racial renaissance.

It prompted this nation to confront its ugly history of white versus black.

And while the world was working to find its way back to normal, there were two young women who had graduated high school that very year, preparing to embark on their collegiate and athletic careers.

Both highly touted players from two different backgrounds, two different playing

styles, but arguably the same agenda to be the best. Because of COVID and different

restrictions across the country, and if we're honest, lack of interest, the world wasn't

focused on women's college basketball, so for the masses, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese,

seemingly became famous overnight.

However, as we find out in this series, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese were supernovas in the making.

The masses were just late to the discovery. Clark and Reese clearly represent so much more than basketball.

They represent resilience, possibility, and resistance.

There I say, their on-the-court rivalry is what we all needed to push this country out of archaic

archetypes that surround the game and filter the way we see women's sports in general.

Clark and Reese have expanded the horizons of the game in ways that my humble mind never envisioned.

So how did we reach this point?

Allow me to tell you a story.

The Superman needed Lex Luthor. The Batman needed the Joker.

And I don't mean to put Angel Reese in some kind of villainous role because I don't consider

her a villain.

But I think every great player needs a foil.

...