There will be a special theme for the final meeting between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark during the 2024 WNBA regular season. The Chicago Sky announced they'll be hosting a "Barbie Night" for the Aug. 30 matchup against the Indiana Fever.
"Winstrust Arena is about to get pink," the team wrote on social media. "Join the Chicago Sky and (Mattel) for the first EVER Barbie theme night vs. the Fever! Meet us August 30th wearing your best Barbie pink."
Wintrust Arena is about to get pink Join the Chicago Sky and @Mattel for the first EVER Barbie theme night vs the Fever! Meet us August 30th wearing your best Barbie pink
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) August 21, 2024
https://t.co/8873Ts6KG4 pic.twitter.com/CLrcd8Mz7P
The Aug. 30 meeting will mark the fourth and final time the two teams will play during the regular season. Indiana won the first two matchups, both played in Indianapolis. The Fever posted a 71-70 win on June 1 and a 91-83 victory on Jun 16.
Chicago won latest game, played at Wintrust Arena. The Sky edged out the Fever 88-87.
The rivalry between Reese and Clark, the two cities and fanbases was going to create a fun atmosphere anyway. Incorporating a Barbie theme into the mix should generate even more excitement.
“The Chicago Sky are thrilled to be the first WNBA team to partner with Barbie, the world’s most iconic and diverse doll brand that reminds girls they can be anything,” Tania Haladner, Chicago Sky’s chief marketing officer said in a statement. “Barbie aligns perfectly with the Sky’s mission to empower girls and women to explore limitless possibilities, and we can’t wait to bring inspiring content to fans.”
Chicago and Indiana are both trying to make a push towards the WNBA playoffs in the final stretch of the regular season. There will likely be plenty at stake when the two teams hit the floor.
Plus, Reese and Clark are considered the two best rookies in the WNBA this season and are in the race fo Rookie of the Year. Both have already broken numerous records early in their careers.
The Aug. 30 matchup is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. ET tipoff. The game will air on ION.
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Kelsey Plum cleaned up the awkward comments she made about Caitlin Clark and her entourage at WNBA All-Star Weekend. The Los Angeles Sparks guard appeared on Sue Bird’s “Bird’s Eye View” podcast to address a comment she made about the united front players showed by wearing T-shirts demanding that they be paid what they are owed. Plum later said the players had made a collective decision to wear the shirts, but that “zero members of Team Clark were present for that.” Plum said she had been trying to joke that Clark was hungover, but so was everyone else. “I made a bad joke. I made a really bad joke,” Plum admitted. “I should’ve known it was a way more serious moment than a typical All-Star Game. I went into that press conference very happy-to-lucky, we won. Had a great weekend, and then questions came in about CBA, this, this, this. “Honestly, I was like, hey, team Clark didn’t make it to the meeting either! I was making a joke that they were hungover even though our team nickname was hungover. Obviously, we’re all on the same page. We all wore the shirts. We’re all unified.” Plum’s joke lacked context, and many took it as a shot at Clark and her team for overshadowing the rest of the players. Plum correctly notes that she probably should have avoided an attempt at humor when discussing a subject that was so important to the players. Ultimately, Plum’s comment was taken as further evidence that Clark’s fellow players resent her. Even if that is not the case, it is easy to see why people felt that way.
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