In the opening match of the 2025 WNBA season, the Indiana Fever triumphed over the Chicago Sky with a score of 93-58, largely thanks to Kate Linklark’s impressive triple-double performance. Linklark, who had a standout season in 2024 as the league’s Rookie of the Year, showcased her skills on home turf in Indianapolis.
She ended the game with 20 points, going 13-for-6 from the field, including four three-pointers, while also contributing 10 rebounds and 10 assists to help secure the win. Interestingly, her contributions weren’t limited to offense; Linklark also made a mark defensively, recording four blocks and two steals in just 32 minutes of play.
While Linklark was the primary scorer, she also received support from her teammates, including Kelsey Mitchell. Another key player, Aliya Boston, who developed great synergy with Linklark in the previous season, had a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds, shooting a perfect 12-for-12. On the other hand, Chicago’s Natasha Howard posed a challenge with 15 points and five rebounds. Despite struggles from their star player, Angel Reese, who only managed to score 12 points on 14 attempts but did grab 17 rebounds, Chicago’s overall shooting was lackluster, at just 29.1% compared to Indiana’s 46.7%.
This season opener is what new head coach Stephanie White envisioned, focusing on an offense with multiple scoring threats centered around Linklark. However, tensions flared during the match when Linklark committed a hard foul on Reese, leading to a confrontation as Reese approached her. The incident escalated, resulting in the referees reviewing the foul and upgrading it to a flagrant foul after noticing Linklark’s aggressive action.
As Chicago converted the ensuing free throws, it was clear that while the Fever celebrated their strong start, the Sky have some adjustments to make.
