Angel Reese, Sky squander opportunity against Caitlin Clark-less Fever

The Chicago Sky caught the Indiana Fever without guard Caitlin Clark and head coach Stephanie White on Saturday. Yet instead of closing the gap between their purported rival, the Sky showed once again they aren't in the Fever's orbit.

The Fever won decisively, 79-52, leading by as many as 30 points to improve to 4-4 and win their second consecutive game without Clark after losing their first two.

The Sky lost starting point guard Courtney Vandersloot to a knee injury early in the game, but plenty of the team's struggles on Saturday also appeared in their first six games.

Chicago shot 32.7 percent (18-of-56), including 20 percent on three-point attempts (3-of-15). Its 52 points were the franchise's fewest since scoring 49 in a loss to the New York Liberty on August 4, 2011.

Forward Angel Reese continued her rough shooting season, going 2-of-7 and finishing the game with four points and 12 rebounds. This season, Reese is shooting 30.8 percent.

Per Her Hoop Stats, the Sky (2-5) ranked 11th out of 13 teams in both field goal percentage (40.9 percent) and three-point percentage (30.6 percent) entering Saturday's game. 

They also had the league's worst defensive rating (109.5) and allowed the most three-point field goals per game (11.2) and the highest three-point percentage (42.1 percent). 

Clark (strained quad) missed her fourth consecutive game, but the Fever showed their depth in the win, building a 13-point halftime lead and blowing the game open after winning the third, 27-11.

Four players (Aliyah Boston, Natasha Howard, Aari McDonald, Kelsey Mitchell) finished in double figures, and Lexie Hull added nine points. Six of the eight players to play meaningful minutes made a three-point field goal.

Indiana was also without White (personal reasons), although you wouldn't notice based on its thorough win. It was the latest reminder that despite the league's effort, Chicago isn't a worthy adversary.

Since the beginning of the 2024 season, the Fever are 5-1 against the Sky and have won the past three games by an average of 27 points per game.

Until further notice, Fever-Sky isn't a rivalry. If Chicago can't compete with Indiana down its best player and head coach, it might be a while until it stands a chance.