The new WNBA season has arrived! Yesterday, first overall pickPaige Bueckers made her debut with a loss against last season’s runner-up, the Minnesota Lynx. The new franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, also lost their first game against the Los Angeles Sparks. Today, the New York Liberty, last season’s champions and this season’s title favorites, defeated the Las Vegas Aces, this season’s second favorites to win the championship, 92-78. The Aces, were led by MVP A’Ja Wilson, who started the season strong with 31 points and 16 rebounds despite the loss.
However, the matchup that fans have been eagerly awaiting since the schedule was released months ago is the Chicago Sky’s visit to the Indiana Fever, where they will face Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. This is the first of five matchups between the two teams this season, an increase from 40 to 44 games per team.
Clark vs. Reese: WNBA Season Opener Showdown
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese made their stylish arrivals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the WNBA season opener. Clark wore black heels, pants, and a blazer, while Reese wore gray heels, a blazer, and a skirt. They set the stage for a sold-out, high-energy game. Last season, Clark and the Fever won three out of four matchups against Reese and the Sky. The Fever advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, while the Sky missed out due to injuries, particularly to Reese at the end of the season. Clark won the 2024 Rookie of the Year award with 67 out of 68 votes. Meanwhile, Reese who got the lonely vote, averaged 13.9 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, setting a new league record.
Expectations are high for both franchises, but even higher for Clark’s team, the Fever. Most betting markets have the Fever third in line to be champions, behind the Liberty and the Aces-all thanks to Clark, who is expected to perform exceptionally well this season. She is favored to win the MVP award this year, even over A’Ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier. Wilson’s performance today will surely make her a top contender again, and Collier was the Defensive Player of the Year last season, so it will be a tough competition for the award. If Clark becomes the MVP, she will be the second-youngest player to win the award, behind Candace Parker, who won MVP and Rookie of the Year at 22.
The match has already had its most interesting moment, which many fans have been waiting for. Clark pushed Reese in what seemed like a common foul, but Reese’s Academy Award-worthy performance and reaction made the game tense and almost caused a fight. We want to see this kind of intensity for the rest of the season!
Season Two for Clark and Reese has Begun
The Fever made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016, thanks to Clark. The Rookie of the Year now holds the records for the most assists in a season and in one game. This year, she will surely aim to remain the league’s assist queen and improve upon her average of 19.2 points per game from last season. The front office improved the roster and brought in a new coach, Stephanie White. White returns to the Fever after coaching the team in 2015 and 2016. The team lost the 2015 finals against the Minnesota Lynx.
The Sky, on the other hand, will rely on Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. The twin towers will be the team’s offensive and defensive focus, as stated by new coach Tyler Marsh in his first press conference. Marsh was an Aces assistant coach when they won back-to-back titles, so he knows how to work with big players like Reese and Cardoso, having worked with A’Ja Wilson. Additionally, the Sky took Hailey Van Lith as their first pick (11th overall) in the draft last month. Today is the first game for both teams, but it sets the tone for what we can expect in the coming months.
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