The WNBA season tipped off this weekend, and fans are getting a marquee rivalry matchup right out of the gate. Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever will host an Angel Reese-led Chicago Sky team in Saturday’s late game, with a packed Gainbridge Fieldhouse expected for the Midwest showdown.
The Fever haven’t won a title since 2012, while the Sky are coming off a disappointing 13-win season that left them out of the playoffs. Still, despite recent struggles, the Chicago–Indiana rivalry has become one of the most anticipated on the WNBA calendar.
If last season’s matchups are any indication, fans can expect an energetic, fiery, and intense battle between two rising squads.
Clark Talks Up Rivalry with Sky as Fever Prepare for Season Opener
The Sky and Fever faced off four times last season, with Indiana taking three of those matchups. But despite coming up short in the series, Chicago played tough in each contest—sending a clear message that they wouldn’t be pushed around.
Of course, any discussion of the Sky–Fever rivalry has to include the history between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. The two former first-round picks have been linked since their college days. Reese got the upper hand in 2023, when her LSU squad defeated Clark’s Iowa in the NCAA national championship. But Clark responded in 2024, leading the Hawkeyes to a 94–87 win over LSU in the Elite Eight.
Both players had standout rookie campaigns, with Clark ultimately edging out Reese to claim the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year award.
As the Fever gear up to face the Sky again on Saturday, Clark was asked to share her thoughts on the budding rivalry.
“I think rivalries are good for all of sports,” said Clark. “Rivalries are real, and that’s what makes sports so amazing. There are certain teams that those games just mean a little bit more.”
"Rivalries are real, and that's what makes sports so amazing".
The Fever-Sky series is one of the budding rivalries in the WNBA.
Asked about this midwest matchup, Caitlin likens it to the Dowling-Valley rivalry in West Des Moines.
Side note: I'm still learning more Caitlin lore.… pic.twitter.com/FiE8aqgnBe— Owen Siebring (@owensiebring)
Clark went on to say that these types of games really get the crowd involved and fans are “amped up” when they come into the arena.
Last season’s first matchup between the Fever and Sky came down to the wire, with Indiana pulling out a 71–70 win at home on June 1. The game was physical from the start, highlighted by a third-quarter incident when Chennedy Carter delivered a hard shove to Caitlin Clark, resulting in a foul that drew national attention.
The teams met again on June 16, with Indiana earning a 91–83 victory. A key moment came in the third quarter when Chicago forward Angel Reese was assessed a flagrant foul after contesting a Clark layup. Reese later defended the play, calling it “a basketball play.”
Chicago notched its first win over the Fever on June 23, with Reese leading the way in a breakout 25-point performance that lifted the Sky to a narrow 88–87 win.
Indiana closed out the season series with a dominant 100–81 win on August 31.
The next chapter of this rivalry tips off Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN+, Disney+, WNBA League Pass, and Fubo.
