A record-setting performance for Angel Reese led her to get bragging rights over Caitlin Clark as the Chicago Sky came back to beat the Indiana Fever, 88-87, on Sunday.
Their third meeting comes after Indiana bested Chicago, 91-83, on June 16. Before that, the Fever edged the Sky, 71-70, on June 1 in the first WNBA meeting between the college rivals.
While both rookies played spectacular games in Chicago, the night belonged to Reese, who became the first WNBA rookie to have a 25-plus-point and 15-plus-rebound double-double since A’Ja Wilson.
On the other hand, Clark also put up a double-double with 17 points and a franchise-high 13 assists with six rebounds.
The former LSU star scored 25 points and collected 16 rebounds to will her team to victory. Furthermore, Reese recorded her eighth consecutive double-double to add to the victory.
Angel Reese led the Chicago Sky in a comeback win over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever
Clark was 2-0 against Reese and the Sky going into Sunday’s game in Chicago
‘I’m a dog, and you can’t teach that’ Reese said after the win. ‘I’m gonna go and do whatever it takes to win every single night.’
After a closely-contested first half, Chicago went down by as much as 15 points in the third quarter. However, Reese spearheaded the Fever’s come-from-behind effort with ten points and five rebounds in the fourth quarter.
‘I try to give myself some grace. I’m very hard on myself,’ Reese continued. ‘I mean, I’m happy we won. That matters most, but I gotta get back to work, we gotta get back to work, and we gotta work hard next game.’
The game went down the wire as Chicago’s defense held Indiana to two points in the dying minutes. But an Aliyah Boston three-pointer brought the Fever within one point with less than 20 seconds in regulation.
Reese is the first rookie to have a 25-point and 15-rebound double-double since A’Ja Wilson
"I'm a dog, you can't teach that…"
A career game from Angel Reese to lead the @chicagosky back from 15 down for the W!
🔥 25 PTS (career high)
🔥 8-12 FGM (4-5 in the 4Q)
🔥 16 REB
🔥 8th-straight double-doublepic.twitter.com/6pxaatGiH7 https://t.co/fAE0QKQhiN
— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2024
Clark recorded 17 points and a franchise-high 13 assists with six rebounds in their losing effort
After a scramble on the other side of the court, Chicago’s Marina Mabrey went to the stripe but missed both opportunities to put the nail in the coffin.
Nevertheless, Chicago’s defense, particularly Kamilla Cardoso’s rebounding became their saving grace as they retained the narrow lead into the final buzzer.
While Cardoso teased a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds, the victory became sweeter for Sky guard Chennedy Carter after scoring 22 points in 29 minutes.
Carter went viral for her infamous bodycheck on Clark during their first meeting. In the following weeks, Reese and Carter embraced the antagonistic role they got handed from interactions with Clark.
Reese scored 25 points and collected 16 rebounds in her eighth straight double-double
Clark and the Fever are now 7-11 this season as the Sky cut in front of them for the eighth seed
Chennedy Carter helped Chicago to victory with 22 points in 29 minutes of play
‘Me and Chennedy, we have a different kind of relationship,’ Reese said. ‘We’ve been through a lot of the same things. A lot of people have misconceptions about us. We understand each other – that’s why I love her.’
‘She can get to me, I can get to her,’ she continued. ‘She a dog too. She came out and did so much for us tonight. This is a team effort, and I’m so happy for this team.
After locking horns in college, while playing for Iowa and LSU, the rivalry narrative followed Clark and Reese into the pros. After several verbal and social media jabs, the noise elevated when Clark got on the receiving end of a flagrant 1 from Reese after hitting her in the face during a layup.
Caitlin Clark notched the double-double with a single-game franchise record 13 assists in Chicago 👏 pic.twitter.com/darmtvgBka
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 23, 2024
Despite the loss, Caitlin Clark set the Indiana Fever franchise record for most assists in a game 💰 pic.twitter.com/78BdApPor7
— espnW (@espnW) June 23, 2024
When asked about their ‘budding rivalry’ and getting her first win over Clark, Reese said: ‘It’s just a competition, I’m happy.’
‘I mean, they still got us. They got one up on us, so I’m just happy for the team, and I want to make it about us. Chicago, they came out tonight, so I’m just happy for us.’
After moving to a 6-9 record, Chicago overtook Indiana (7-11) for the final playoff spot as the eighth seed.
Unless they get in a collision course in the postseason, Clark and Reese’s rookie chapter closed today in one of the highest-selling games in WNBA history.
