Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky triumphed over Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever 88-87 on Sunday at the Wintrust Arena in front of a star-studded crowd.
The audience included WNBA Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes, New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, rappers Chance the Rapper and Lil Durk, and actor Jason Sudeikis, all gathered to witness the third meeting between the two teams this season.
Clark and the Fever had won the previous two encounters, but the Sky finally clinched victory in a tense game. Reese had a standout performance, scoring a career-high 25 points and grabbing 16 rebounds, extending her WNBA rookie record double-double streak to eight consecutive games.
She became the third player in league history to achieve this milestone, joining the ranks of Sylvia Fowles and Candace Parker.
“This is what I do: I come out and perform,” Reese told reporters afterwards, per ESPN. “I do what it takes to win every single day.”
Clark also delivered a strong performance, scoring 17 points and dishing out 13 assists. USA Today’s Nancy Armour described the atmosphere as “electric … the kind of energy this city hasn’t seen for a professional basketball game since the Jordan years.”
In the previous two meetings between the Sky and the Fever this WNBA season, the intensity of the games has been a major talking point. Clark was on the receiving end of flagrant fouls in both games, first from Chennedy Carter and then from Reese. However, Sunday’s game was played largely without incident.
The game began with a tight first half, featuring seven ties and eight lead changes. The Fever built up a 15-point lead midway through the third quarter, but the Sky fought back to tie the game at 82 with three minutes left. With the score tied at 84 and just under a minute remaining, Reese made a driving layup to put Chicago ahead by two. The Sky maintained their lead to secure their sixth win of the season.
Reese led Chicago in scoring and was supported by Carter’s 23 points. For Indiana, Kelsey Mitchell recorded a team-high 24 points, with reigning Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston adding 18 points.
The 22-year-old Reese became the first rookie in Sky franchise history to score 20 or more points and grab 15 or more rebounds in a game. Meanwhile, Clark made history by becoming the first rookie in WNBA history to achieve 15+ points, 10+ assists, and 5+ three-pointers made in a single game.
Clark and Reese’s rivalry has been well-documented since their high-profile clash in the 2023 NCAA championship game.
“It’s good for the game, good for women’s basketball, but also good for women’s sports,” Reese said of the crowd, per ESPN. “You see NBA players, rappers, legends that played in the league for a great long time come out and show support. You know everybody’s watching right now. I think this is one of the most important times right now, and we just continue to keep putting on. I think both teams tonight did an amazing job putting on a show. It was fun. I had a great time, I’m sure the other team had a great time.”
