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WNBA's Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese Rivalry Hits New Low Before Season Ends

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Sep 5, 2025 8:33 AM ET

WNBA fans were dealt a double blow on Thursday as the end of the regular season draws closer.

Friday was supposed to be one of the biggest nights of the year with the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky facing off in a rivalry showdown that, ideally, could have had playoff implications for both sides. Instead, the two superstars who are the reason behind the rivalry in the first place are both sitting out Friday’s rather anticlimactic clash.

Caitlin Clark was not expected to suit up for the game as the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year continues to nurse a lingering groin injury that has kept her sidelined since mid-July. The Fever’s cornerstone superstar made it official on Thursday night, announcing that she will not be returning this season.

Angel Reese, on the other hand, was supposed to be the star who could have salvaged the rivalry clash. After all, having half of the rivalry on the court would have been better than not having both of them at all.

This still wasn’t to be. Reese was called for a technical foul in the Sky’s 88-64 win against the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday. This was the 6-foot-3 forward’s eighth technical of the season, which warrants an automatic one-game suspension.

The Sky contested the tech with the hope of having it rescinded by the league. The WNBA, however, confirmed on Thursday that Reese’s suspension for the Fever game will stand.

All this leads to the fact that Clark and Reese only got to face off once throughout the season. The WNBA scheduled five games between the Fever and the Sky this season (Indiana has won all four thus far), which has been the biggest draw among fans since Clark and Reese took their rivalry to the pros. However, the league’s plans were derailed by multiple injuries and a suspension, leaving supporters who have been longing to see the next chapter of the rivalry unfold unsatisfied.

The silver lining in this unfortunate turn of events is that at 23 years old, both Clark and Reese still have so much basketball ahead of them. Their rivalry has been put on hold in 2025, but as they always say, there’s always next year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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