Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s rivalry is an efficient factor for the WNBA, and so they realize it

INDIANAPOLIS — It could nonetheless be very early of their respective journeys, however Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark will likely be tied to at least one one other it doesn’t matter what occurs over the remainder of their careers.

Even earlier than concurrently coming into the WNBA as a part of probably the most heralded rookie courses ever, Clark and Reese — and particularly the aggressive faculty clashes between their Iowa Hawkeyes and LSU Tigers, respectively — performed an enormous position in bringing the ladies’s sport to a nationwide viewers.

Sunday supplied the newest chapter of their quickly rising rivalry. For the second time in as many conferences towards the Chicago Sky, Clark was hit with a tough foul. This time, it was Reese who caught Clark within the head on a block try, a play that was ultimately deemed a Flagrant-1 foul.

Whereas it probably received’t create the nationwide firestorm the final flagrant foul towards Clark in a sport towards the Sky did, it was a watershed second between the 2 in one other sport that got here right down to the wire, a recurring theme in matchups between the pair.

Clark had arguably her greatest sport within the WNBA, flirting with a triple-double whereas ending with 23 factors, 9 assists and eight rebounds, in addition to a few late clutch performs — together with an help to NaLyssa Smith and a pair of free throws within the remaining 30 seconds — that helped seal a fifth win of the season for the Fever (5-10) and fourth within the final six video games.

Reese left her mark as nicely, scoring 11 factors to go along with 13 rebounds (5 of them had been offensive), and 5 assists.

After the sport, although, there was just one subject to debate. After cursory first inquiries to open their pressers, the second query for each Clark and Reese postgame was concerning the flagrant foul.

“What’s going via my thoughts is I must make these two free throws,” Clark stated when requested about Reese’s flagrant foul. “That’s all I’m serious about. It’s simply a part of basketball. It’s what it’s. She’s attempting to make a play on the ball and get the block however, yeah, it occurs.”

Reese, in the meantime, was far shorter along with her response, calling the foul a “basketball play” and stating that she was going for the ball. Neither needed to make an enormous deal about it, however that received’t cease the take prepare from taking place the tracks — and doubtlessly derailing ladies’s basketball discourse for just a few days as soon as once more.

Clark and Reese are not any strangers to being on this highlight, neither is it new for them to do it collectively. Sunday was the eighth time the pair have confronted off, together with in faculty. Reese received the primary 4 conferences, culminating within the nationwide title sport in 2023 by which the primary viral second between the 2 got here when Reese taunted Clark within the waning seconds of the sport.

Clark, although, has received the three most up-to-date conferences. That features the Elite Eight contest earlier this 12 months and the 2 WNBA conferences between the pair to date.

Whereas their duels within the Massive Ten when Reese was at Maryland in her freshman and sophomore seasons earlier than transferring to LSU didn’t seize the nationwide viewers, their event showdowns definitely did. The pair helped set the file for the most-watched ladies’s faculty basketball sport of all time in 2023 at 9.9 million viewers.

This spring in a rematch with a Ultimate 4 berth on the road, they obliterated that file, with 12 million followers tuning into the sport. Of their first WNBA assembly this season, 1.5 million followers tuned in, the fourth-largest viewers to look at a WNBA sport within the final twenty years on the time.

After years of commanding huge audiences on the collegiate degree, Clark and Reese at the moment are bringing an entire new set of eyes to the skilled ranks.

“They love to look at us,” Reese stated of her and Clark earlier than Sunday’s assembly. “I believe we’ve executed a fantastic job bringing quite a lot of followers to the league from faculty. I believe we each have executed that from our respective faculties and [having] our championship runs and going to the Ultimate 4. I believe we did a fantastic job bringing followers from faculty to the league and…we’ll proceed to assist [the league] develop.”

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Given the occasions and controversy that occurred within the first assembly between the Fever and Sky of their first assembly, the TV viewers for Sunday’s sport will nearly definitely be one other giant one. Gainbridge Fieldhouse was bought out for the fourth time this season, and the followers had been as loud as they’ve been all 12 months.

It’s inarguable that Reese and Clark are compelling tv: two of the most effective younger gamers on the earth squaring off with each other time and time once more as they assist develop the sport alongside the best way.

However what Clark thinks attracts audiences most, although, is the “emotion and keenness” the 2 play these showdowns with.

“I believe folks like to see that,” Clark stated. “I believe that’s possibly not one thing that was at all times appreciated in ladies’s sports activities and it needs to be. That’s what makes it enjoyable. We’re rivals. That’s the best way the sport needs to be. It’s going to get slightly feisty, it’s going to get slightly bodily however on the finish of the day, each groups are simply attempting to win.

“I believe what she’s executed along with her platform is unbelievable. She has a complete fanbase that has supported her [with] what she did at Maryland after which LSU. Clearly, I’ve performed her for a really very long time and he or she’s been an amazing participant. It’s been enjoyable to get to compete towards. I believe it’s been actually good for the sport. Folks simply love seeing nice matchups. But in addition, on the identical time, folks tune in for these matchups however then they get to see how wonderful these groups are after which they discover new gamers to assist and proceed to return again for them, too. So, I believe that’s one other advantage of it, truthfully.”

Sunday was one other noteworthy second within the rivalry. Even when each downplayed it, the headlines from the sport received’t be about Clark’s near-triple-double or Reese’s double-double. It should deliver consideration to the league, however not in the best way both want.

The pair, although, is bringing a lot of the needed consideration to the league as nicely. And Reese and Clark can have loads of alternatives to supply extra memorable moments towards each other.

The WNBA isn’t chock filled with rivalries that resonate on a nationwide scale the best way Clark’s and Reese’s do. The Liberty and Aces are a transparent one because the league’s two superteams, however outdoors of that, there aren’t many different nationally-known rivalries.

Pregame, Fever head coach Christie Sides was requested if their matchups towards the Sky really feel like rivalry video games. Sides, who served as an assistant in Chicago from 2011 via 2016, stated it was a “large” rivalry and has been for a few years. However even when that’s the way it felt to these on the within already, the addition of Reese and Clark was at all times going to deliver it up a few notches now.

They’re two of the brilliant younger stars on this sport and have already outlined an period of the faculty sport. They give the impression of being to be on the trail to doing the identical within the WNBA as nicely.

And in the event that they do, it might assist elevate the league to its highest ranges but.

You’ll be able to observe Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.