Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese had another encounter on Saturday in the WNBA opener for the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, but it was Clark who would get the last laugh.
Clark's flagrant foul on Reese as she attempted to go up for a shot will create some talking points online, but the real story isn't a foul that Clark shrugged off as a normal basketball play.
Caitlin Clark received a flagrant foul on this play.
— ESPN (@espn) May 17, 2025
Aliyah Boston and Angel Reese received offsetting technical fouls. pic.twitter.com/jzQYEW92TW
It's the way the Fever dominated a team many expect to contend for a playoff spot in 2025, besting Chicago by 35 points (93-58).
Oddsmakers were high on the Fever entering the season. Clark is the betting favorite to be WNBA MVP, according to ESPN . Indiana is among the top contenders for the league championship after an active offseason, plus the continued development of Clark and Aliyah Boston.
The former two No. 1 overall draft picks dominated. Yet, Clark stole the show with her third career triple-double, scoring 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including a 4-of-8 effort from three-point range, on top of 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
The WNBA noted the historic nature of her triple-double.
Caitlin Clark made history on Opening Day
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 17, 2025
She recorded a triple-double (20 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST) to lead the @indianafever to a dominant win.
She’s now the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 3 career triple-doubles (41 games)
…and ties Candace Parker for 3rd-most… pic.twitter.com/50uDmazdo8
Clark wasn't just hitting from deep, though. She did connect on a first-half buzzer-beater, but her playmaking was also on full display in addition to four blocks and two steals.
Boston also had a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. She managed five blocks too. Indiana had 10 total, while limiting the Sky to just 29.1 percent shooting from the field.
Indiana's offense was already elite. But if the Fever can play as well defensively as they did on Saturday, the rest of the league should be worried.
It was just one game, but it's clear that Clark has taken a step forward. She looks more comfortable and took better care of the ball, which was her one weakness in 2024.
Clark won't turn the ball over more than five times per game this season. That's just not going to happen. She showed once again that she's the best playmaker in the WNBA.
Caitlin Clark vs Chicago:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 17, 2025
20 PTS
10 REB
10 AST
2 STL
4 BLK
Ties Alyssa Thomas for the second-most 20 PT triple-doubles in WNBA history. pic.twitter.com/3vyJe9th0p
The second-year star from Iowa looked like an MVP candidate on Saturday. Just like the Fever looked like a true WNBA title contender.
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