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ANGEL REESE APPLAUDS CAITLIN CLARK CHEAP SHOT During Sky Vs. Fever Game

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Caitlin Clark became the face of women's basketball as a college superstar. Her WNBA journey is proving more challenging. 
Yes, the rookie scored 30 points for her Indiana Fever on Tuesday night — but the effort came in yet another loss, this time to the Los Angeles Sparks. "It has been that kind of season so far for the former Iowa star and her new teammates," said ESPN. The Fever have lost seven of their first eight games — more defeats than her entire final year at Iowa — and Clark has occasionally appeared lost on the court. "We did some good things," Clark said of the latest loss, "and then we just kind of shot ourselves in the foot."

 Finally, after four consecutive home losses, the Fever were celebrating.

In the latest matchup between college rivals Clark and Angel Reese, and on a day former South Carolina star Kamilla Cardoso made her regular-season pro debut in front of another sellout crowd at Bainbridge Fieldhouse, Clark finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in a 71-70 victory over the Chicago Sky on Pride Day.

“It was great, and I think it came at a really great time,” Clark said after winning the inaugural Commissioner’s Cup game. “Our fans were awesome. They were energized. You know we really didn’t shoot the ball well at all collectively as a team and you know sometimes that’s hard for the fans, like that’s what they come to see. But I think they really appreciated our great defense tonight.”

Clark had plenty of help from her teammates even before Marina Mabrey missed the first of two free throws for the Sky with 6.6 seconds left to make it a one-point game before Clark’s ball toss.

Mitchell scored 18 points, NaLyssa Smith had 17 points and nine rebounds while Kristy Wallace and Aliyah Boston each scored 10. Boston, Cardoso’s former teammate at South Carolina, also had eight rebounds as the Fever (2-8) snapped a three-game losing streak.

This contest was about much more than scores or stats, though.

It featured three of the top seven picks from this year’s draft — three players in a generational rookie class who could all become the new faces of the WNBA — and a week in which Fever fans were treated to seeing each of the top four draft picks and five of the top seven.

This time, Clark got the upper hand on two of the women who prevented her from winning an NCAA championship even as she took a shoulder shot from Chennedy Carter before an inbound pass during the third quarter. The refs called it an away-from-the-ball foul.

Carter said she wouldn’t take any questions about Clark.

“I wasn’t expecting it,” Clark said initially. “It is what it is. It’s a physical game. Go make the free throw and execute on offense, and I feel like that’s kind of what we did.”

Still, the rematches between Clark, a two-time NCAA player of the year and two-time Division I national runner-up, against Cardoso, who won her second title with the Gamecocks in March, and especially Reese, who led LSU to the 2023 national title, captivated the crowd.

Reese did not take questions from reporters following the game.

Before the game, Fever coach Christie Sides attempted to play up the rivalry between the two Midwestern teams, but the loud pregame ovation for Clark and a smattering of boos that were quickly drowned out by cheers for Reese during pregame introductions typified the showdown.

Reese finished with eight points and 13 rebounds in her latest round against Clark while Cardoso played for the first time since injuring her right shoulder in a preseason game on May 3. Cardoso had 11 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes but was called for a foul that led to Boston’s three-point play with 1:19 left, which proved the difference.

“First game back and she played pretty well, too,” said Carter, who had 19 points and six assists to lead the Sky (3-4). “She hasn’t been in this position, closing the game, so let’s give her some time.”

Marina Mabrey finished with 15 points and nine rebounds for Chicago.

Cardoso entered for the first time midway through the first quarter and wasted no time making an impact. She had six points and four rebounds during a six-minute stint in which the Sky erased a 22-16 deficit, took the lead, and sustained the momentum to complete a 15-4 spurt after Cardoso departed midway through the second quarter.

Clark helped ignite Indiana’s response, a 9-0 run just before halftime, to give the Fever a 35-31 lead.

Chicago charged back to tie the score at 37 early in the second half, but Indiana answered with six straight points and closed the third quarter with a 54-49 lead. The Sky rallied again late after falling into a 68-58 deficit and closed the game on a 12-3 run — but couldn’t quite come all the way back.

“I thought earlier this season if we would have shot like this, we wouldn’t have won the game because we didn’t have that resiliency and we would have let it affect our defensive play,” Clark said. “So just proud of us, I thought we were really gritty.”

UP NEXT

Sky: Get a short break before hosting the New York Liberty on Tuesday.

Fever: Visit New York for the second time this season Sunday.


Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever got the win against the Chicago Sky on Saturday but boy, things got physical .... including a cheap shot that sent the number one pick to the hardwood, drawing applause from rival Angel Reese!

It was a full house at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for the first WNBA match-up between Reese and Clark ... and they picked up right where they left things off in college!

The game was intense, and the Fever was thrilled to come away with their second win of the season. Clark wasn't happy with the body check from Angel's teammate, Chennedy Carter.

The controversial play went down in the third quarter of the tight game ... when Clark was waiting for the inbound pass. Out of nowhere, Chennedy shoved Clark hard enough to send her crashing to the floor.

Reese was on the bench at the time, but jumped out of her seat, applauding in response to the hard foul.

Angel also got a piece of Clark, too ... appearing to throw her arm at CC in the 4th quarter, again sending her to the ground.

Despite the physical play, Clark's Fever won 71-70 -- their second victory of the season.

Angel scored 8 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while Caitlin had 11 points and 8 rebounds.

It's been a constant theme of the young, most-watched WNBA season ... Clark's been constantly getting beaten up on the floor. So far, it's been allowed to happen by and large.

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Clark and the Fever will face the Chicago Sky again on June 16th ... expect it to be another wild and physical game!

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