Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark were the top two rookies in the WNBA last season.
Their on-court history goes back well before they turned pro. A rivalry began to take shape during their college years — Reese at LSU and Clark at Iowa — with matchups in the 2023 national championship and the 2024 Final Four, both won by Reese’s Tigers.
In their rookie WNBA seasons, they faced off four more times, with Clark winning three of those matchups.
While both players have dismissed talk of a rivalry, the intensity between their fan bases suggests otherwise.
Fans often take jabs at the opposing player, and Clark supporters found an opportunity on Friday night. Reese’s Sky opened the WNBA preseason against the Brazilian National Team in a game hosted at LSU.
A video of the crowd surfaced on social media, and Clark fans were quick to point out that the game didn’t sell out, even at Reese’s alma mater.
EMPTY SEATS… EMPTY SEATS…EMPTY SEATS…EMPTY SEATS!!!!!!! Angel Reese has to be embarrassed…That placed is supposed to PACKED!!!! https://t.co/WedLWEJ0P3
— Caitlin Clark Soldier 💙💛❤️ (@PackerBacker_JD) May 3, 2025
Reese’s mom, Angel Webb Reese, noticed the jab on Friday night and responded to the “haters.” She wasn’t too concerned about attendance, with her daughter’s national championship banner hanging in the rafters.
“Aww that certain fan base looking in the stands celebrating ‘attendance’ while others are looking up in the rafters celebrating championship banners,” Webb wrote. “We ain’t the same. Different year same haters Have a great day.”
Aww that certain fan base looking in the stands celebrating “attendance” while others are looking up in the rafters celebrating championship banners. We ain’t the same. 🤦🏽♀️ Different year same haters 😂 Have a great day 😘
— AngelReese(TheMom) (@awebbreese) May 3, 2025
The Sky and Fever will face off five times during the 2025 WNBA season. Their first matchup will be on opening day, May 17, when the Sky travel to Indianapolis. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
Related: Caitlin Clark’s New Teammate Emerges as ‘Mama Bear’ for Fever
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