Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will reignite their rivalry on Thursday in the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup. It’s their first meeting since Reese joined the Atlanta Dream, giving her a more competitive chance against Clark’s Indiana Fever. It was a lopsided matchup when Reese was with the Chicago Sky, with Clark’s Fever going 8-1 head-to-head in 2024 and 2025.
Both players are off to up-and-down starts individually. Clark is averaging 20.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 8.1 assists. On the surface, her numbers stand out, but she’s shooting a measly 39.3% from the field, including 33.3% from 3-point range. Clark is also committing 4.6 turnovers. While it’s a career-low mark, it’s still significantly over the league average. Her team is struggling, too. Indiana is on a two-game losing streak, dropping to 4-4.
On the other hand, Reese is averaging 13.0 ppg, 11.3 rpg and 3.5 apg. Like Clark, Reese has also struggled to shoot and committed turnovers at a high clip. She’s converting 41.2% of her shots from the field despite the majority of her attempts coming at the rim. Reese has committed 4.0 tpg, which is rare for a player with her usage and at her position. Her team is successful, though. The Dream are 6-2, leading the East and are second overall.
While a lot separates the two, given their different positions and roles, Clark and Reese enter their first matchup of the year owning two unwanted records. Clark leads point guards all-time in most consecutive games (59) with at least two turnovers, while Reese leads power forwards with 26 games for the same record. The Dream star’s streak is active. Clark had an active streak for her entire career until Saturday against Portland.
It was her worst performance of the season, with six points and six assists on 1 of 7 shots in the 100-84 loss, but Clark only had one turnover. She’s never had a game without turning the ball over.
Caitlin Clark faces pivotal test against Angel Reese
Caitlin Clark is arguably going through the worst time of her career, including high school, college and the WNBA. All eyes are on the Fever star, especially after a series of controversial moments overshadowing the seven games she’s played. It began with a sideline argument with assistant coach Briann January on May 17 during the Fever’s 89-78 win over the Storm.
For the next game, Clark was sidelined last minute with a back injury on May 20 in the 90-73 win. The latest situation emerged on Saturday when Clark had an explosive altercation with coach Stephanie White. Several fans and analysts called her out for not playing defense and being disrespectful towards her coach.
Clark and White shot down speculation about their relationship on Monday, but speculation about the Fever’s shaky locker room dynamic remains. A losing streak doesn’t help the team’s case, either. A matchup against the Eastern Conference leaders, co-led by Clark’s biggest rival, Angel Reese, only makes life more challenging for the team.
It could be a pivotal moment in the season for Caitlin Clark and Co. A loss puts them one game under .500 through nine games, a position they and not many others expected them to be in. Moreover, a loss to another potential championship contender would severely dent the Fever’s hopes of improving on their playoff semis run from last year.
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