WNBA fans have eagerly anticipated the rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, and it got even more heated on Sunday afternoon as the Indiana Fever secured a 91-83 victory over the Chicago Sky in a highly competitive game.
Clark and Reese have brought their college rivalry to the WNBA. As top contenders for Rookie of the Year—Clark being the No. 1 pick and Reese the No. 7 pick—their second professional encounter did not disappoint.
Heading into the game on June 16 between Clark's Fever and Reese's Sky, the two have faced each other six times — once in the WNBA and five times in college. Reese has come out on top in four of these matchups, but Clark has secured victories in the last two meetings.
Historic night for Caitlin Clark
Fever star Caitlin Clark was unstoppable, etching her name in the history books by becoming the first rookie in the WNBA to record 20+ points, 8+ rebounds, 9+ assists, and 2+ blocks in a single game.
In another feat of excellence, Clark also became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 200+ points, 75+ rebounds, and 75+ assists.
Clark came guns blazing for the Fever, sinking her first three shots and racking up seven points in the first quarter, equalling her entire scoring total from Thursday’s victory over the Atlanta Dream.
Sky playing physical with Clark
In their previous matchup, much attention was drawn to Chennedy Carter of the Sky and her aggressive foul against Clark, sparking discussions beyond basketball.
Although the incident is in the past, ongoing conversations continue regarding the perceptions of Clark by other players.
Similar to their previous matchup two weeks ago, Caitlin Clark found herself knocked down by a strong blow during their recent game. This time, it was Angel Reese's elbow connecting with Clark's head.
Unlike the incident involving Carter, the referees reviewed the play and upgraded the foul to a flagrant-1.
Reese's actions resulted in her being in foul trouble, rendering her almost ineffective in the second half.
Fever rising, Sky falling
Angel Reese racked up four fouls by the third quarter, halting her progress in what was shaping up to be a strong game for her. At halftime, she led the Sky with nine points. Ultimately, she tallied 11 points, securing a team-best 13 rebounds and distributing five assists.
Chicago was paced by Marina Mabrey's 22 points, with Chennedy Carter's 18 and Dana Evans' 12. Kamilla Cardoso contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds, initially giving the Sky an advantage in the frontcourt against Indiana.
In the second half, Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith seized control of the game. Boston, in particular, established a strong connection with Clark as the game unfolded, outperforming her former South Carolina teammate Cardoso in their one-on-one battle.
Boston ended the game with 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for the Fever, while Smith contributed 15 points along with seven rebounds.
Kelsey Mitchell played a pivotal role for Indiana in the second half, especially as Clark and Boston attracted more defensive focus. Mitchell contributed 17 points throughout the game. Additionally, Katie Lou Samuelson made 3 out of 4 shots from beyond the arc, finishing with nine points.
Following the match, Reese expressed disagreement with the flagrant foul call, arguing that it was a regular basketball play where she attempted to block Clark's shot.
The Sky's loss on Sunday marked their fourth straight defeat, bringing their season record to 4-9 which puts them one game behind Indiana (5-10) in the Eastern Conference standings.
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