Clark and Reese’s Rivalry Set for WNBA Season Opener

On Saturday, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will reignite their rivalry during the WNBA season opener featuring the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky.

Clark expressed her feelings about the matchup as she prepares for her second season. “Rivalries bring authenticity, and that’s what makes the sport so exciting,” she remarked. “Some games just carry more weight, and we aim to play intensely every time. The fans feed off that energy, and they truly enjoy it.”

The competitive spirit between Clark and Reese has been palpable since their contentious encounter at the 2023 NCAA Championship. That game saw Reese spark anger among fans when she pointed to her ring finger, a gesture that has since fueled ongoing animosity.

Clark, representing the Iowa Hawkeyes, sought to avenge that loss against Reese’s LSU Tigers in the Elite Eight just a year later. But, the rivalry intensified as both players transitioned to the professional level in the WNBA.

Throughout the 2024 season, Clark faced a number of controversial fouls from Reese’s Chicago Sky team. An infamous incident occurred when she received an illegal hip check from Cenedy Carter, followed by a hard foul from Diamond Deshields that escalated to a flagrant violation. Deshields even shared a screenshot of a hateful message she received after that foul.

Despite the heightened tension, Clark’s team was victorious in three out of four meetings against the Sky last year, making their matchups among the most viewed WNBA events of the season.

Looking ahead, the Sky and the Fever are scheduled to face off five times in 2025. It seems this rivalry is only getting started, and that adds an exciting layer to the upcoming season.