Caitlin Clark’s Fever are rising in WNBA playoff image, whereas Angel Reese’s Sky are falling

CHICAGO — It would’ve been a Barbie World, however it was Caitlin’s Home.

Within the fourth and ultimate matchup between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese — and, you understand, the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky — there was no query who the mannequin participant was in a pink-festooned Wintrust Enviornment for “Barbie Night time.”

Clark scored a season-high 31 factors and added 12 assists in a 100-81 blowout victory in a packed enviornment Friday night time. In the meantime, Reese struggled to get into rhythm, ending with 10 factors and 11 rebounds.

The Fever are rising, the Sky are falling, and let’s be sincere, there’s no race for Rookie of the 12 months. It was a pleasant story whereas it lasted — the continuation of a rivalry born in school, one which has been a welcome addition to the WNBA — however for this award, there’s a primary place and second place, and we all know the order.

shifting up 📈

go contained in the locker room after we moved into sixth place within the playoff standings with our win at Chicago. pic.twitter.com/GM3h889wLB

— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 31, 2024

Earlier than the sport, Clark and Reese had been requested concerning the award, and each shrugged it off.

“We each have the identical reply, we don’t get up and take into consideration particular person awards,” Clark mentioned. “I do know that’s what all of you assume we do, that’s what everyone desires to make this about. However each of our groups are competing for playoff spots and that’s our foremost focus.”

“I feel you guys have made it a giant factor,” Reese mentioned.

I consider them. I’m certain Reese, the challenger on this situation, was fascinated about it when everybody was gassing her up earlier within the season, however actually, that sort of award turns into a spotlight after you win it.

So let’s not waste time arguing. We all know the way it’s going to go. Clark, who has the ball in her hand and the Fever flowing via her, is exhibiting that her school success goes to hold over to the WNBA. She seems assured and free. The times of individuals concern-trolling about WNBA gamers being imply to her needs to be over. She’s the one doling out the punishment now.

“I really feel like we’re assured, however that’s any group on this league while you’re in a position to stack some wins,” Clark mentioned. “That’s the whole lot, proper?”

On Friday, she went 8 of 14 from the sector, together with 5 for 9 from 3-point vary, and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line. She had 12 assists and three turnovers in 32 minutes. She is averaging 24 factors and eight.5 assists because the break. Being left off the Olympic group would possibly’ve been one of the best factor for her season.

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Clark led 4 gamers in double digits because the Fever shot 48.5 from the sector and hit 13 of 29 3-pointers. Indiana trailed early within the first quarter however took management within the second and cruised from there.

“Truthfully, I felt it was a clean sport for us,” she mentioned. “We had been flowing properly on the market. It simply felt like fairly basketball. Typically I feel as basketball gamers, you may simply really feel it.”

Reese has been the second-best rookie all season, which is a feat in itself. She had that post-Olympic three-game streak of 20-plus rebounds and broke two Tina Charles rookie information Friday night time, however her offensive limitations have gotten extra pronounced. She took solely 9 pictures (making 4), whereas her fellow rookie large Kamilla Cardoso took solely 4 (making one). The Sky had been lacking their Chen, as in quicksilver guard Chennedy Carter, their main scorer who missed her second consecutive sport below “well being and security protocols.” After a scorching begin, led by guard Lindsay Allen, the offense was a large number.

“We’ve to get the ball inside,” Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon mentioned. “That’s who we’re. The ball should go inside. It has to go inside to our bigs. They’re dominant in there. It helps after they dominate the paint. Then it helps us on the surface. It provides us a chance to have a fringe sport.”

Their enchancment will include time. However for now, nobody cares about rookie information or double-doubles. Chicago has misplaced 5 straight video games and 6 of seven because the Olympic break. It’s 11-20 and only a sport up on Atlanta for the eighth and ultimate playoff spot.

“We’ve bought to begin taking part in determined,” Sky guard Rachel Banham mentioned. “We’ve to take it to an entire ‘nother degree. Will we wish to be within the playoffs or not? Are we going to only pack our luggage and go dwelling? Let’s determine it out proper now.”

In the meantime, the Fever (16-16) have gained 5 of six and moved into sixth place within the WNBA playoff race, because of the head-to-head tiebreaker with Phoenix. Their gradual begin to the season is a reminiscence however not forgotten.

“I bear in mind saying early within the season, I do know there’s going to be a second the place we glance again on this later within the season and be like, this 1-8 begin goes to assist us someplace down the road,” Clark mentioned. “And I feel that is now that second.”

Indiana gained three out of 4 in opposition to the Sky within the season collection. Of their earlier matchup, the Sky got here again from a giant fourth-quarter deficit to win 88-87. On Friday, Clark was fascinated about each the long run and the previous.

“This was a giant one for us,” she mentioned. “It virtually counts as two while you’re in a playoff race with a loss and a win. So it was a giant one. But additionally, we wished to win the season collection with them. That was sort of a spotlight level. And the final time we had been right here, we had been 15 within the fourth quarter and sort of fumbled it away. In order that was one other alternative for us to return in right here and present what we’re about.”

Shortly after hitting two free throws to offer her a brand new WNBA excessive in factors, Clark left the sport with practically 4 minutes left as a result of her group was forward by so many. She had nothing left to show. Not on this night time.

In the meantime, the Sky are struggling for solutions.

“Should you’re not motivated getting your ass whupped, then we bought an issue,” Banham mentioned. “Then don’t placed on a uniform, since you higher really feel this in your chest.”

(Illustration: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic; Photographs of Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark: Dylan Goodman / NBAE by way of Getty Photos, Barry Gossage / NBAE by way of Getty Photos)