In a highly-anticipated faceoff, Caitlin Clark emerged victorious over her college rival Angel Reese, marking their first WNBA encounter. This rivalry has been closely followed since their collegiate days when LSU and Iowa squared off twice in the postseason.
On Saturday, an impressive crowd of 82,857 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana witnessed this epic showdown. After 40 minutes of intense play, Clark and the Fever clinched a thrilling 71-70 win, marking their second victory of the season and their first at home.
Clark delivered a noteworthy performance, contributing 11 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. On the opposite side, Reese managed to tally eight points and an impressive 13 rebounds for the Chicago Sky.
Intense Competition Throughout
The game was a closely contested affair with both teams staying neck-and-neck. The Fever maintained a lead for most of the final period while the Sky were never more than five points behind.
In the waning moments, Dana Evans narrowed the lead to two points with free throws and then Reese grabbed an offensive rebound that could have turned into a game-changer. However, NaLyssa Smith’s foul on Marina Mabrey led to a missed free throw from Mabrey, allowing Indiana to run down the clock.
Key Players’ Performances
Indiana saw strong contributions from all starters. Kelsey Mitchell led with 18 points, followed by Smith with 17. Aliyah Boston and Kristy Wallace each added ten points. Smith narrowly missed a double-double by one rebound.
The standout performances were not limited to seasoned players. Rookie Kamilla Cardoso made her presence felt in her WNBA debut by scoring 11 points and grabbing six rebounds in just 18 minutes on court. Just stay composed, she reminded herself throughout.
A Recap of Their Rivalry
Reese clocked in an impressive double-double during the 2023 NCAA Championship game against Clark’s Iowa team, leading LSU to a national title with 15 points and 10 rebounds. However, Clark got her revenge later in April when Iowa eliminated LSU from the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament.
Current Season Outlook
This season, Reese averages 11 points, 8.2 rebounds, and two assists per game—leading all rookies in boards—and has played every game for Chicago, now holding a record of 3-4. It was great, and I think it came at a really great time, Reese reflected on her performance despite her team’s loss.
Caitlin Clark has also showcased strong numbers this season with averages of 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game despite Indiana’s overall struggles, winning only one of their nine games before Saturday’s victory.
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