“She keeps whining that she’s losing to Caitlin because she’s black, but Ice Cube bluntly says: ‘She should look at how much the audience hates her!’ The BIG3 boss drops a bomb that shakes the WNBA.
Caitlin Clark gets offered $5 million, while Angel Reese is completely left out of the game. Ice Cube coldly declares: it’s pure business—money flows to whoever draws fans, media, and massive revenue, and right now Clark is crushing everything.
Right after Ice Cube’s knockout punch, Angel Reese furiously fires back with just one single sentence, enough to shut the boss up completely.”
In the ever-heated world of women’s basketball, the rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has transcended the court, fueling debates about race, marketability, and stardom. But in July 2025, the conversation exploded when BIG3 league co-founder Ice Cube delivered a blunt assessment that reignited tensions and drew sharp criticism.
Speaking to TMZ Sports at LAX, Cube explained why his 3-on-3 professional league extended a lucrative $5 million offer to Clark back in 2024—but not to Reese.
The original offer to Clark, then a college phenom at Iowa, was groundbreaking: $5 million to play just eight regular-season games plus potential playoffs, with additional perks like merchandising revenue.
Clark ultimately declined, choosing the WNBA and the Indiana Fever, where she became Rookie of the Year and a massive draw. But when asked if a similar deal could go to Reese—fresh off a strong sophomore season with the Chicago Sky, averaging nearly 14 points and 12.5 rebounds—Cube was unequivocal.
“She’s a great player,” Cube acknowledged of Reese. “The thing with Caitlin Clark, it was to unlock millions of dollars for the league because of her stardom.
What our sponsors were telling us, they didn’t tell us the same about Angel Reese.” He added, “I don’t think we can make that same offer because it won’t have the same impact to the league. All business—it ain’t nothing personal.”
Cube’s words landed like a haymaker in a league already grappling with discussions of racial bias in marketing and fan engagement.
Critics accused him of perpetuating double standards, pointing to how Clark, who is white, has shattered viewership records and attracted unprecedented mainstream attention, while Reese, who is Black, boasts strong on-court stats and endorsements but faces more polarized reactions.
Social media erupted, with many calling Cube’s rationale tone-deaf or worse, especially amid ongoing conversations about how Black athletes are often undervalued commercially compared to their white counterparts.
The backdrop added fuel. Reese has long navigated intense scrutiny, from her celebrated trash-talking in the 2023 NCAA championship to claims of racial double standards in media coverage.
While she has never explicitly said her losses to Clark stem solely from race, she has spoken openly about receiving disproportionate hate and how the rivalry has been racialized by fans and commentators.
Studies and reports have highlighted racial undertones in fan reactions, with Reese often villainized in ways Clark is not.
Cube’s comments seemed to echo a narrative that Reese’s polarizing persona—fiery, unapologetic, and outspoken—turns off certain audiences and sponsors. “Money flows to whoever draws fans, media, and massive revenue,” he implied, noting Clark’s ability to “crush everything” in terms of ratings and ticket sales.
The WNBA has seen explosive growth, largely credited to Clark’s transcendent appeal, but Reese’s supporters argue her cultural impact, signature Reebok shoe line, and role in elevating the league’s visibility among diverse audiences are undervalued.
The drama peaked when Reese, known for her quick-witted responses, fired back furiously on social media.
In a now-viral post that racked up millions of views, she delivered a single, scorching sentence in Vietnamese slang, translated as “Shut your arrogant mouth.” The raw, direct retort—”câm mồm đi thằng hách dịch”—left fans stunned and Cube uncharacteristically silent.
It was a mic-drop moment, blending cultural flair with unfiltered anger, shutting down the BIG3 boss and shifting the narrative back to Reese’s defiance.
Reese’s clapback went viral instantly, with supporters hailing it as iconic and critics decrying it as disrespectful. But it underscored her refusal to stay quiet amid what many see as unfair comparisons.
“Clout is one helluva drug,” Reese had posted earlier, seemingly shading those using her name for headlines—including legends like Candace Parker, who referenced the controversy on her podcast.
The incident shook the WNBA ecosystem. Players across the league weighed in indirectly, emphasizing unity while the players’ association reiterated support for fair treatment. Cube, meanwhile, stood by his business rationale, joking in follow-ups about serving Reese “paper plates” instead of the “good china” reserved for top draws like Dr.
J or Gary Payton.
Yet the fallout highlighted deeper issues: the commercialization of women’s basketball, where marketability often intersects with race and personality. Clark’s endorsements have soared into the tens of millions, dwarfing her rookie salary, while Reese’s deals—with Reebok, McDonald’s, and more—prove her star power, even if sponsors for ventures like BIG3 hesitate.
By late 2025, as Reese competed in the new Unrivaled 3-on-3 league (winning a championship bonus) and Clark continued dominating headlines, the BIG3 saga served as a flashpoint. Cube’s “bomb” exposed raw truths about revenue-driven decisions, but Reese’s fiery one-liner reminded everyone she’s not backing down.
In a sport booming like never before, the Clark-Reese dynamic remains its most compelling—and controversial—storyline. Business may dictate the dollars, but passion and personality drive the drama.
And with Reese’s shutdown echoing across platforms, one thing is clear: she’s not letting anyone, not even a hip-hop icon turned league boss, define her worth.
As the WNBA heads into 2026, the question lingers: Will bridges be built, or will these divides deepen? For now, Reese’s single sentence stands as a bold declaration—silencing critics one fiery phrase at a time.
