The WNBA 2025 regular-season schedule was released on Monday, and the latest clash between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese is set to take place immediately.
Clark’s Indiana Fever and Reese’s Chicago Sky will face off to open their respective seasons on May 17 – a day after the league’s opening day.
The rivalry that dates back to their college days at Iowa and LSU quickly carried over to the pros, with drama seen in the Rookie of the Year race as well as their on-court matchups.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots a basket against Dallas Wings guard Sevgi Uzun during the first half on Sept. 1, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Clark went on to win Rookie of the Year this past season after setting several rookie and league records, but Reese quickly established herself as a fellow WNBA All-Star by making an impact in Chicago in her first season.
Fever and Sky met four times last season, and each was more anticipated than the next as both tried to outdo each other to help their teams win.
But it was Clark’s Fever who won three of the four meetings. In those games, however, Reese scored more points and rebounds than Clark, even though the floor general provided the best support for Reese in all four games.
CAITLIN CLARK IS A BIGGER STAR THAN THE NBA’S BEST PLAYERS, FAMOUS PODCAST HOST SAYS
There were also some tense moments in those games, starting with Reese’s teammate Chennedy Carter’s flagrant foul on Clark earlier in the season that made national headlines and sparked a slew of sports debates after the veteran guard checked the rookie to the ground in what many described as a cheap shot.
Then, on June 16, Clark was preparing for a game against the Sky when Reese flew in to try to hit the ball away. Instead, her arm hit Clark in the head and she went down hard.
Reese, who was flagrantly fouled once, had to defend herself after the game, saying she was simply trying to make a play and not trying to hurt Clark.
Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese (5) drives the ball to the basket as Los Angeles Sparks’ Dearica Hamby defends during the first half, May 30, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
Clark would say the same, understanding that Reese is just trying to help her team at this point.
Their performances, both in college and in the pros, have each achieved celebrity status that goes beyond sports. Reese even said in the opening episode of her podcast that the 2023 national championship game between her Tigers and Clark’s Hawkeyes “changed my life forever.”
But that change sometimes comes with resentment.
“I think it’s really just the fans, her fans, Iowa fans, now Indiana fans, that are really fair, they’re rooting for her and I respect that very much,” Reese said. “But sometimes it’s very disrespectful. I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to that.”
There’s no doubt that Clark and Reese have each played a significant role in the growth of women’s basketball and women’s sports in general, which is why the WNBA wasted no time in bringing them on board immediately for their latest chapter of rivalry.
Also notable on the WNBA’s release calendar is the newest franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, who will kick off their first game on May 16 against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Angel Reese defends his attempt to block Caitlin Clark, which resulted in a flagrant foul. (Getty Images)
The New York Liberty, the 2024 WNBA title winners, will hold their ring ceremony on May 17 before their game against the Las Vegas Aces.
The Fever and Sky will meet five times in the 2025 season.
