Getty Image / Emliee Chinn
On Sunday, we had yet another installment of Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark’s epic rivalry. And, like all of the meetings before, this one lived up to the billing.
The story usually revolves around Caitlin Clark. But, on Sunday it was the Chicago Sky’s Reese that outplayed Cailin Clark and the Indiana Fever, having a massive fourth quarter to lead her team back from a huge deficit and steal a win, 88-87 after Clark decided to not shoot the potential game-winning shot in the final seconds.
Clark and the Fever won the first two matchups this year between the two teams, and she also won the final matchup in college when Iowa beat LSU in the Elite Eight back in April. But, it truly was Angel Reese’s day, as it took every contribution from a career day for the rookie to snap a three-game losing streak to Caitlin Clark.
Reese finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds on 8-11 shooting and absolutely took over in the fourth quarter. The Sky trailed by as much as 12 in the final quarter, but she would not let them lose. For the quarter, she had 10 points on 4-5 shooting.
NOW THAT'S MAJOR ROOK ‼️
Angel Reese ties game in the final 2mins in the 4Q after getting the AND-1 to go. She's up to 22 PTS and 16 REB
📺 Fever-Sky on ESPN pic.twitter.com/pc4NMbrJka
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 23, 2024
The @chicagosky takes the 1-point lead after Angel Reese goes to work in the POST 🔥
Reese is up to a career-high 25 PTS to lead all scorers
📺 Fever-Sky on ESPN pic.twitter.com/WBaPcRLyBJ
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 23, 2024
It added up to her best WNBA game by far and is her signature performance in her young career. Her eighth-straight double-double extended her rookie record.
It’s not as if Caitlin Clark played poorly. In fact, she set a franchise record with 13 assists to along with 17 points on 5-11 shooting, with all her makes coming from behind the three-point line. But, it’s the shot she didn’t take that has people talking.
With the Fever down one with a chance to take the lead in the game’s final seconds after a Sky turnover, Clark elected to pass to Aliyah Boston instead of taking the last shot herself. Boston missed the shot, and the Fever lost.
Caitlin Clark has to shoot that last shot. That’s something that has to be learned over time. When to be Jason Kidd and when to be Kobe.
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) June 23, 2024
Ultimately, this round went to Angel Reese, who made it known what she thought about her performance after the game.
Sheryl Swoopes embraces Angel Reese after her career-high performance and epic win against the Fever 🙌#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/fiZfrnDTKR
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 23, 2024
The two won’t play against each other until the end of August, but they could team up in the WNBA All-Star Game next month.