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After battling in high-stakes games on multiple occasions in college, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese clashed for the first time in the WNBA on Saturday.
In the opening game of the 2024 Commissioner's Cup, Clark's Indiana Fever took down Reese's Chicago Sky 71-70.
Reese led LSU to a win over Clark and Iowa in the 2023 NCAA National Championship Game, but Clark and the Hawkeyes got revenge in this year's Elite Eight by beating Reese and the Tigers. Thanks to the high-profile nature of their rivalry, a large crowd was on hand Saturday at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to see Clark and Reese:
Indiana made Clark the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft after she won back-to-back National Player of the Year awards in college, while the Sky used the seventh overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft on the 2023 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in Reese.
Clark, Reese and the rest of the 2024 rookie class have helped revitalize the WNBA early this season, and fans made their excitement known for Clark vs. Reese on social media:
Pinto @pintoneousNot me sitting here and watching <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/reese?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#reese</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cardoso?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cardoso</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/clark?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#clark</a> on a Saturday afternoon. These rookies are so fun to watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wnba?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wnba</a>
While the Fever were struggling mightily entering Saturday's game with a 1-8 record on the season, Clark has produced well individually. However, Saturday proved to be one of her worst games as a pro thus far.
Clark finished with 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting to go along with eight rebounds and six assists, but both her three-point shooting ability and pinpoint passing were on full display at times:
Reese had some shooting woes in the loss, recording eight points on 2-of-9 shooting, plus 13 rebounds for a Sky team that dropped to 3-4:
Although much is often made about Clark and Reese being rivals dating back to Reese doing the "you can't see me" hand gesture to Clark and pointing to her ring finger during LSU's national title win over Iowa in 2023, there is seemingly no ill will between them.
Prior to the game, Clark praised Reese, and Reese discussed the pride she has for how the entire 2024 WNBA rookie class has performed thus far:
Julia Poe @byjuliapoeCaitlin Clark had high praise for Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso ahead of today's game. <br><br>"(Angel) has been so dominant at what she does ever since we played in high school."<br><br>"Kamilla is just scratching the surface of her potential." <a href="https://t.co/ur1dBNA93f">pic.twitter.com/ur1dBNA93f</a>
The vast majority of the focus entering and during Saturday's game was on Clark vs. Reese, but it also featured a meeting between former University of South Carolina teammates Kamilla Cardoso and Aliyah Boston, who won a national title together in 2022.
Cardoso, who went third overall in the 2024 WNBA draft, made her league debut Saturday after returning from a shoulder injury. She impressed with 11 points and six boards in just 18 minutes off the bench.
Boston, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA draft and the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year, produced to the tune of 10 points and eight rebounds.
After winning their second game of the season, Clark and the Fever will look to keep the positive momentum going Sunday when they face the New York Liberty on the road.
Meanwhile, Reese and the Sky will attempt to bounce back Tuesday when they host the Liberty.
