The Fever had no answer for Reese’s dominant performance.
ngel Reese was an unstoppable force when the Chicago Sky met Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Sunday. She was so hard to stop that it inspired the Fever to try an extreme defensive tactic that went against the spirit of the game while the referee’s back was turned.
Reese had a game-high 25 points to go with 16 rebounds for her eighth consecutive double-double, joining Sylvia Fowles and Candace Parker as the only WNBA players to achieve that streak. So perhaps it’s no surprise that Fever coach Christie Sides tried to find a way to keep her off the court.
On one possession, Indiana guard Erica Wheeler face guarded Angel Reese in the corner of the court, slowly wedging her further and further out of bounds.
By the end, she had pushed Reese back next to the bench about 10 feet off the court, but they were so far out of bounds that the referee couldn’t see what was happening as their teams battled four-on-four in the meantime.
“Why they acting like she’s a prime Shaq?” one fan asked on X, formerly Twitter, underneath the video. She would probably be flattered but the comparison with her fellow LSU alum mentor.
Angel Reese vs Caitlin Clark stats
Reese’s performance, and the extreme defensive attention she got as a result, was a big statement in the Rookie of the Year race she is waging against Clark.
It was her first victory over Clark as a professional after losing their first two head-to-head matchups in the WNBA. The Fever star finished with 17 points, 5 rebounds and a franchise record 13 assists in the loss.
The former Iowa star has already learned the hard way about all the difficult defenses WNBA teams will throw at high-achieving rookies. Now, it appears the Chi Town Barbie has earned the same respect.
