It seems the WNBA has finally given up on the Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese rivalry. Its schedule for the 2026 season took a drastic turn, relegating the long-standing feud to the back burner and starting to build anticipation for a new rivalry: Clark vs. Paige Bueckers.
Clark and Reese have had a personal rivalry since their freshman year in college basketball. This rivalry reached its peak in the 2023 NCAA final, when Angel’s LSU Tigers defeated Caitlin’s Iowa Hawkeyes.
That game drew 12.5 million television viewers, and the WNBA hoped to translate that popularity to the professional level. The gamble paid off in their rookie year, with 2.5 million viewers tuning in to the games between the two in the 2024 season.
However, injuries derailed the rivalry. In 2025, they only faced each other once out of the five scheduled games, after Clark played just 13 games and Reese missed 14 with the Chicago Sky. This is why the league reportedly decided to change its approach.
The WNBA has sidelined the Clark vs. Reese rivalry
According to analyst Rachel DeMita, the WNBA will no longer focus on the rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Instead, it will capitalize on Paige Bueckers’ rise to create a new feud.
Breaking down the WNBA’s press release on Courtside Club, DeMita explained:
“In this whole press release, there were only two players mentioned, and that was Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers.”
The analyst emphasized, “What I’ve noticed throughout this whole schedule release is that it feels like the Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky rivalry is finally dead.”
DeMita was blunt, stating, “It was pretty much dead on arrival last year, but they had them play each other like five or six times.” This year, however, they only have three games scheduled, she noted.
But that doesn’t mean the league will leave Clark’s rivalry blank. “Now it seems like the WNBA has moved on, and they are definitely pumping up this Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers rivalry.”
The WNBA schedule speaks volumes
DeMita indicated that the 2026 WNBA season will tip off on Friday, May 8, with the Toronto Tempo’s franchise debut. Most teams will debut the following day.
The analyst emphasized, “And May 9th includes defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces Finals rematch vs. Phoenix and Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever hosting Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings.”
In contrast, the first game between Indiana and Chicago would be on June 11. However, the league seems to be playing conservatively this time, as it also scheduled only three games between the Fever and the Wings.
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