The start of Caitlin Clark’s WNBA campaign has been rocky, but the rookie got revenge “sort of” on two of her arch-rivals as the Indiana Fever defeated the Chicago Sky 71-70.
The game between the Fever and Sky marked Clark’s first professional career meeting against former college rivals Angel Reese and Kamila Cardoso. Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes lost to Reese’s LSU squad and Cardoso’s South Carolina in the last two NCAA championship games.
All three rookies struggled in the game. Cardoso turned in the best performance of the trio despite fouling out in just 18 minutes in her WNBA debut.
Caitlyn Clark Gets Upper Hand on Arch-Rivals
The game, the first Commissioner’s Cup of the season, was close throughout, with five ties and five lead changes. Indiana (2-8) never trailed after taking a 33-31 lead with 1:30 left in the first half and led by nine points late in the game following a Clark layup with 3:36 left in the game.
However, Chicago (3-4), who led by as many as five points, never gave up. Trailing 68-59, the Sky (3-4) went on a 8-0 run to get within one point. But the Fever’s Aliyah Boston converted a three-point play at 1:18, which proved to be the game-winner.
Chicago outscored Indiana 21-17 in the fourth quarter. The Fever shot just 5 of 17 from the field (29%), including 1 of 6 from deep (16.7%). However, the Fever went 6 of 6 from the free-throw line in the final quarter, while the Fever were 8 of 11 after Mabrina Mabry, who could have tied the game, was only able to connect on the second of two free throws with 6.1 seconds left.
The Sky made one more shot and outshot the Fever 40.1% to 39.1% and outrebounded them by 10. The difference was that the Fever turned the Sky’s 16 turnovers into 17 points, and they had six 3-pointers compared to two for the Sky. The victory was the Fever’s first in five home games.
Cheap Shot
Chicago’s Chennady Carter and Indiana’s NaLyssa Smith were named the players of the game. Carter tallied 19 points on 8 of 12 shooting, six assists, and four rebounds off the bench. The Sky’s bench outscored the Fever’s reserves 33-5. Meanwhile, Smith had 17 points, nine caroms, three assists, two blocks, and one steal to pace all Fever starters in double-figures.
Clark continued her shooting struggles in the game. However, she did reach double figures for the eighth time in 10 games, scoring 11 points on 4 of 11 shooting, including 2 of 9 from deep, in 37 minutes. Late in the game, Carter gave her a cheap shot while waiting for an inbounds.
According to Matt Audilett of Athlon Sports, Carter appeared to call Clark a “b—h” before hitting her and sending her crashing to the court. However, it was later learned that Clark had trash-talked Carter on the previous possession. Carter was whistled for a common foul instead of a flagrant 1.
“I wasn’t expecting that, but it’s just, ‘Respond, calm down and let your play do the talking.’ It is what it is,” said Clark after the game about Carter’s foul, per Chloe Peterson on X.
“They’re just competing. That’s all they’re doing is competing”
Clark, Reese, and Cardoso
Despite her continued shooting struggles, Clark’s biggest issue remains turnovers. She turned the ball over five times, marking the fourth straight game she reached that number and the seventh time this season. The 22-year-old did grab eight boards and doled out six assists.
Reese, who was reportedly laughing on the bench when Clark was knocked down, has had her own trouble this year with efficiency and fouls. Reese has been fantastic on the boards, however, and continued that trend today.
The 6-3 forward grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, including a Sky rookie record eight offensive, and added eight points on 2 of 9 shooting. It was the second time she reached double-digit boards, and on the fifth occasion in seven contests, she collected eight or more caroms. Reese tops the WNBA with five offensive rebounds a game.
Cardoso missed Chicago’s first six games with a shoulder injury. However, the 6-7 center was impressive in her debut, finishing with 11 points on 5 of 7 shooting, six boards, and a +11 rating.
Chicago and Indiana will meet three more times this season.
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As has been well documented, Clark finished her career as one of the most decorated players in women’s college basketball history. She was named the 2023-24 Wooden Award winner and ranked first in NCAA history in scoring and second in history. Of course, she was the top pick in the WNBA draft this past season.
Meanwhile, Reese — the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s draft — had an outstanding last two college years, earning MOP honors of the 2022-23 NCAA Tournament and a 2023-24 Wooden finalist. Cardoso, the No. 3 overall pick, was the 2023-23 NCAA Tournament’s MOP and Defensive Player of the Year.
Clark went 1-1 in college against Reese and Cardoso, with both victories in the national semifinals. However, Reese and Cardoso are the trio’s two champions.
