When Angel Reese made the bold claim that she’s the “Michael Jordan of the WNBA,” no one was ready for what came next — especially not when Stephen A. Smith decided to respond. The ESPN icon, known for his fiery takes and no-filter commentary, absolutely unloaded on Reese in a segment that instantly went viral, leaving fans stunned, furious, and laughing all at once.

It all started during a recent podcast appearance, where Reese — never one to shy away from confidence — compared her journey to that of Jordan’s. She spoke about her competitiveness, her will to win, and the challenges she’s faced, saying: “I’ve got that same mentality as MJ. I’m built different. I’m the reason people are watching.”

The clip exploded online within hours. Some fans applauded her confidence, while others rolled their eyes. But it wasn’t until Stephen A. Smith addressed it on First Take that the debate reached full-blown chaos. And let’s just say — Stephen A didn’t hold back one bit.

“Angel Reese calling herself the Michael Jordan of the WNBA?” Smith began, pausing dramatically. “With all due respect, she’s not even the Michael Jordan of her own team!” The studio erupted with laughter as Smith leaned into the camera, his voice rising with every sentence. “Listen — I love Angel Reese. I respect her hustle. She’s marketable, she’s a competitor, she’s box office. But Michael Jordan? C’mon now! We can’t do that!”

Smith went on to emphasize that comparing herself to Jordan wasn’t just “bold,” but “borderline delusional” given her current WNBA résumé. “You’ve got players like A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Caitlin Clark lighting up the league — carrying franchises, breaking records, changing the culture,” he said. “Meanwhile, Angel Reese is still figuring out how to get her team to the playoffs consistently.”

The segment quickly turned explosive online. Clips of Stephen A. shaking his head and saying “You ain’t MJ, you barely Pippen right now!” spread like wildfire across X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. Fans flooded the comments section — some defending Reese’s self-belief, others agreeing with Smith that her comments were “way out of pocket.”

One fan wrote, “Stephen A said what needed to be said. Angel’s got swagger, but MJ changed the world. Let’s not get crazy.” Another shot back, “Why are we tearing down confidence? MJ wasn’t MJ until he became MJ. Let Angel be Angel!”

But Stephen A. wasn’t done. He took it a step further, arguing that comparing anyone in the WNBA to Michael Jordan is unfair — not because they can’t be great, but because Jordan’s legacy is untouchable. “Michael Jordan wasn’t just a player — he was the standard. Six rings, five MVPs, countless game-winners, and a global empire built on excellence. You don’t just call yourself Jordan — you earn that title.”

What really sent social media into meltdown, though, was when Stephen A. brought Caitlin Clark into the conversation. “If we’re talking about the Jordan effect — the player who’s changing the game, who’s drawing ratings, selling out arenas, and making people care — that’s Caitlin Clark! She’s doing for the WNBA what Jordan did for the NBA. That’s facts!”

Those comments reignited the ongoing rivalry narrative between Clark and Reese. Fans immediately revisited their college history, where Clark’s Iowa team famously battled Reese’s LSU squad in an unforgettable NCAA showdown. The tension between their fanbases never really cooled — and Stephen A.’s remarks poured gasoline on that fire.

Within hours, #StephenASmith was trending. Reese, for her part, didn’t stay silent. She fired back subtly with a cryptic post: “They always talk when you’re on top. Keep watching me.” That single line racked up hundreds of thousands of likes — but Smith doubled down later that day on his podcast.

“Angel Reese isn’t being hated on,” he said. “She’s being held accountable. You can’t compare yourself to Michael Jordan when you haven’t dominated the league yet. Believe in yourself, absolutely — but recognize the mountain you still have to climb.”

Even former players chimed in. Some supported Reese’s self-confidence, noting that every great athlete needs that mentality. Others sided with Stephen A., saying her comment was premature and disrespectful to the league’s true legends. One retired WNBA star even tweeted, “You don’t claim GOAT status in year two. You let the résumé do the talking.”

Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark fans had a field day. Memes flooded social media with captions like “Angel Reese = MJ? Clark = Prime LeBron?” and “Stephen A had time today!” Others pointed out that while Reese has had strong moments, it’s Clark who has shattered viewership records, jersey sales, and fan engagement metrics — making her the league’s true marketing engine.

By the end of the week, Reese’s quote had become a cultural flashpoint — and Stephen A.’s reaction only amplified the conversation around ego, confidence, and performance in women’s sports. Some argued that men boast like that all the time without backlash, while others said there’s a fine line between belief and arrogance.

What no one can deny, though, is that Angel Reese knows how to keep herself in the headlines. Whether it’s her outspoken nature, fashion flair, or rivalry with Clark, she’s mastered the art of staying relevant. And while Stephen A. may have “destroyed” her in one segment, he also gave her what every athlete craves — more spotlight.

As the WNBA heads into a pivotal offseason, both Reese and Clark will continue shaping its narrative in their own ways. Clark with her record-breaking performances and humble leadership; Reese with her charisma, confidence, and boldness to say what others won’t.

In the end, maybe that’s the real story: Angel Reese doesn’t need to be Michael Jordan. She’s carving out her own path — even if that means taking a few verbal jabs from Stephen A. Smith along the way. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that controversy sells — and Angel Reese is, without question, must-watch every single time she steps on the court.