Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese developed a heated rivalry over the last two years while both were in college. Clark and Reese faced each other a total of two times in college, both times in the NCAA Tournament. The rivalry perhaps started during their prep days, as Reese finished as ESPN’s No. 2 prospect in 2020 out of St. Frances Prep (MD), and Clark was the services’ No. 4 rated prospect out of Dowling Catholic HS (IA).
Reese and her LSU got the better end of the first meeting as the Tigers won their first national title, defeating Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes 102-85 in 2023. The game was chippy, and there was trash-talking from both sides. Reese tallied her NCAA record 34th double-double (15 points and 10 boards), while Clark dropped 30 points.
Clark and the Hawkeyes got their revenge over LSU by ending the Tigers 2024 NCAA tournament in the Elite, as Clark tossed in 41 points. Meanwhile, Reese struggled offensively, making 7 of 21 shots, though she did finish with a double-double, 17 points, and 20 boards.
Fast forward to today, and the scoreboard reads Clark 3, Reese 0.
Budding WNBA Rivalry Round 3 Preview, Prediction & Player Props
Clark has defeated Reese in all three of their matchups as professionals. Clark’s first win was going No. 1 overall to the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA draft, while Reese went No. 7 to the Chicago Sky.
On the court, Indiana and Chicago are meeting for the third time this year on Sunday, June 23. The Fever have won both earlier meetings in Indiana, and Clark has outdueled Reese. Clark averaged 17.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.5 assists while shooting 50.0/31.3/1.000% in the first two meetings. Meanwhile, Reese produced a double-double in the last meeting between the teams. But she has struggled overall against the Fever, producing 9.5 points on 27.5% shooting, with 13.0 boards and 3.5 assists.
Reese was also called for a Flagrant 1 foul against Clark the last time out, as she was going for a layup.
Indiana Fever At Chicago Sky
Date: June 23, 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Where: Wintrust Arena, Chicago
TV: ESPN
Records: Fever (7-10, 3-6 Road),
Sky (5-9, 2-5 Home)
Injuries: Fever: Temi Fagbenle (foot), Out; Damiris Dantas: Out
Sky: Diamond DeShields (ankle): Probable; Elizabeth Williams (knee): Out
H2H: Fever 71-70 in Indiana (June 1)
Fever 91-83 in Indiana (June 16)
Game Line: Fever +1.5 points, Over/Under 170.5 points, ML: Fever +100, Sky -120
About the Indiana Fever
Indiana sits in the eighth and final playoff spot with a 7-10 record, as the Fever have won four straight. Indiana began a five-game road trip with a 91-79 road victory over Atlanta on Friday to improve to 3-6 on the road.
The Fever are looking to end a seven-year playoff drought this year. But for them to do so, they need to improve their defense, as they are the worst team in the league on that end of the floor.
Offensively, the Fever have some talent and have improved their efficiency this month. The Fever is one of the best shooting teams in the league, averaging 80.5 points with shooting splits of 44.0/35.5/77.9%. The Fever averages 8.0 offensive rebounds and 32.8 boards a game, but they get outrebounded by 1.2 rebounds. They also average 19.5 assists and 13.6 turnovers a game.
Clark leads four players in double-figures with 16.2 points on 39.5/33.8/88.9%. She also tops the team with 6.2 assists and 2.7 3-pointers while committing 5.6 turnovers.
The other key players for the Fever are Kelsey Mitchell (16.0 points, 2.1 threes), Aliyah Boston (12.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 blocks), and NyLyssa Smith (11.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks).
Defensively, Indiana allows a league-worse 87.9 points on 44.9% shooting from the field and 36.6% from beyond the arc. The Fever allows 8.9 offensive boards per game and permits their opponents to attempt 20.9 free throws a contest. The Fever block 4.7 shots a game, though they only force 12.5 turnovers.
About the Chicago Sky
Chicago snapped a four-game losing streak with an 83-72 home win over Dallas on Thursday. The Sky are 5-9 and sit in ninth place in the league. They are 3-5 at home.
Chicago has struggled offensively this year and ranks in the bottom quarter in most offensive categories, but the Sky are solid defensively. The Sky average 79.4 points with shooting splits of 42.1/30.7/76.7% and 18.7 assists. The Sky leads the WNBA with 11.6 offensive rebounds and an average of 35.6 boards a game, with a 0.0 rebound difference. They commit 13.4 turnovers a game.
Marina Mabry leads five players in double-figures with 15.4 points, 2.1 3-pointers, and 4.1 assists with shooting splits of 41.0/37.1/78.1%. Chennedy Carter (13.7 points, 54.4 FG%), Reese (12.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.9 steals) and Dana Evans (10.5 points, 3.7 assists) are the Sky’s other key players.
Defensively, Chicago allows 80.9 points while holding their opponents to 43.9% from the field and 6.4 3-pointers at a 31.1% clip. The Sky give up 9.6 offensive rebounds and permit their opponents to attempt 20.1 free throws a game. The Sky only blocks 3.5 shots a game, though they force 17.5 turnovers a game.
Prediction
The first two games of the series between Indiana and Chicago has been very contentious and physical. Clark has taken the brunt of the physicality, taking an unnecessary blow from Carter in the first meeting. The WNBA eventually upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 1, although Carter probably should have been tossed because there is no need or place for that nonsense in the game.
Then in the second game of the series, Reese was whistled for a Flagrant 1 for hitting Clark across the head. While Reese should have been called for a Flagrant, it was a basketball play and occurs quite often in a game.
Expect today’s game to be physical as well.
As the first two games in the series were relatively close, this contest should be relatively close. The Fever has outscored the Sky by a total of nine points.
Indiana won the last meeting 91-83 on July 16, as the Fever outscored the Sky by six in the final quarter. Chicago didn’t have Elizabeth Williams in that affair and is 1-4 without its starting center. The Fever shot 56.5% from the field and was 8 of 18 from beyond the arc in the game.
While I lean towards taking the Fever to extend their win streak in this one, I like the Under more. I project the over/under should be closer to 166.5. Moreover, the Under has hit in four of Chicago’s seven home games, where the average score is 159.1 points this season. Similarly, the average score of the Fevers road games is 167.5 points.
Indiana is 6-2 in June and has been better defensively lately. Plus, the Sky doesn’t have the firepower to keep up with the Fever. The Sky have struggled offensively in the first two meetings, averaging 76.5 points over the first two games, shooting 40.7% from the field, and making just 3.5 3-pointers at a 29.2% clip.
Trends
- Fever are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
- Fever are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Fever are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Fever are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Sunday games.
- Fever are 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Fever is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following an ATS win.
- Sky are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Sky are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Sunday games.
- Sky are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Sky are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 4-0 in the Sky’s last 4 games playing on 2 days rest.
Picks
Pass or Fever (+100)
Pass on picking the winner, though. If you really want to select the game, I would lean toward taking the Fever on the money line at plus money.
Bet of the Game: Under 170.0 points
Go with under the 170.5 point total.
