INDIANAPOLIS — Even if one or both sides don’t officially acknowledge the existence of a new rivalry, there are always signs and noises.
For example, Indiana Fever fans booed loudly every time Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese stepped to the free throw line. Or those fans cheering really loudly when Reese (and Camila Cardoso) fouled out.
When Reese picked up his fifth foul early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game, the only thing louder than the roar of the crowd was the sound of the T-shirt cannon.
This is what emerging competition should sound like. They’re characterized by good-natured, old-fashioned hatred; you’ll support your opponents as passionately as you would your favorite team. “Sky and Fever” gives us exactly this message.
“I think it just goes to show that women’s sport is undoubtedly an amazing thing and fun to watch, given the opportunity.”
Caitlin Clark on the rise of women’s sports 👏 pic.twitter.com/ulcOw1cQns
– Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 16, 2024
These two teams have met twice so far this season, with Indiana winning both times in tight contests. The first match doesn’t need much reminder, as Channedy Carter’s butt check on Kaitlyn Clark made that match pretty memorable (and controversial). In Sunday’s game, Reese fought for the ball but inadvertently hit Clark in the head while trying for a layup, and after a brief review by the referee, the foul was correctly upgraded to a flagrant foul.
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Angel Reese’s foul on Kaitlyn Clark upgraded to a flagrant foul
These interactions may headline a sports debate show, but they’re just a small part of what will likely be one of the WNBA’s best rivalries. This is the story of Reese and Clark, now household names as they faced off in two of the most memorable NCAA tournaments in recent history. This is about Cardozo, who has established herself as a force in the paint during her career despite dealing with injuries early in the season. It’s about Aliyah Boston, last year’s WNBA Rookie of the Year, playing her best basketball right now. This is about Carter, who is a game-changer for Chicago when she’s on the court.
It’s about a treasure trove of elite young talent playing in cities just three hours apart. Those teams have a combined six players who have been top-four picks in the past four WNBA drafts. These organizations are hungry for some success and now have the ingredients to help them achieve it.
After the Fever defeated the Sky 91-83 on Sunday, Chicago guard Marina Marbury said she didn’t view the game as a rivalry, adding that it might just be for “new fans.” .
But even if it’s driven by fans new to W, that’s the point. It’s an obvious entry point for fans of Clark or Reese, or anyone who has watched women’s college basketball in record numbers over the past few seasons. The public has become fascinated by these players and their personalities, and they want to see what happens when they continue to clash, even if they have different names on the front of their jerseys. Fierce coach Christie Sides, who spent the first six years of her WNBA coaching career in Chicago, said this rivalry has existed before, but what’s different now is that there are two “really good young teams. Trying to find a way out.” Great players get better every game. “
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Clark also understands why fans are drawn to this particular matchup. It’s because of her and it’s because of Rhys.
“That’s the emotion and passion that we play with – I think people like to see that,” Clark said. “It may not be something that’s always appreciated in women’s sports, but it should be taken seriously. I think that’s the fun of it. We’re competitors. That’s what the game should be. It’s going to get a little intense. It’s going to be It was a little physical, but at the end of the day, both teams just wanted to win.
“Obviously, I’ve played against her for a long time and she’s a great player. It’s fun to compete against (Reese). I think it’s really good for the game. People just like to see a good matchup, but At the same time, people will tune in to watch these matchups (among us), but then they’ll see how good those teams are and then they’ll find new players to root for and continue to come back for them as well.
Or maybe they’ll watch an incredible back-and-forth game and find new players they want to play against. That’s good too, because that’s sport. If you add fuel to the fire, everything will make more sense.
(Photo by Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese: Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
