Two of the best and most popular
rookies in recent WNBA memory provided basketball fans the most
expensive game in WNBA’s history – and it did not
disappoint.
Rookie sensation Caitlin Clark
and her Indiana Fever bested rookie rebounding machine Angel Reese
and her Chicago Sky 100-71 Friday night in Chicago.
Clark, this year’s top overall
pick, stuffed the stat sheet yet again as she poured in a
career-high 31 points on 8-14 FG, 5-9 3PT, 12 assists, and 4
rebounds. This is Clark’s 5th game this year with 20+ points and
10+ assists, which would be the most of such games in a single
season in WNBA history. Clark also passed Ticha Penicheiro for the
most 10+ assist games by a Rookie in WNBA history. But more
importantly, the win pulled the Fever to a .500 record at 16-16 and
currently the 6th seed in the tight race to the
playoffs.
Caitlin Clark tonight:
🟥 31 PTS (career-high)
🟥 8-14 FG
🟥 5-9 3PT
🟥 12 AST
🟥 4 REBROTY debate over 🔥 pic.twitter.com/x49rJaZT4P
— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews)
August 31, 2024
Reese on the other hand
continued making history on her own by setting a new rookie record
with 23 double-doubles, surpassing Tina Charles’ previous record of
22 set in 2010. The 7th overall pick of this year’s draft had 10
points and 11 rebounds in the loss.
A historic performance by Angel Reese, even
in defeat:⬛ 10 PTS
⬛ 11 REBAngel Reese sets a new
#WNBA rookie record with 23 double-doubles, surpassing Tina
Charles’ previous record of 22 set in 2010 🔥 pic.twitter.com/leKcULTDBB— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews)
August 31, 2024
The game featured in what has
been the highest get-in ticket game in the WNBA’s history – a
whopping $863 average price.
The game also may have
effectively ended the Rookie of the Year race with how it has been
pushed by the media considering each rookie’s stellar performances.
Clark has been the all-around superstar Indiana has asked for as
they have turned to a playoff team this year following a
cellar-dwelling finish just a season ago. Reese on the other hand,
has been putting up rebounding numbers never before seen from a
rookie and even leads the league in rebounds overall, even grabbing
more than reigning MVP and 6-foot-4 A’Ja Wilson herself.
The
#WNBA regular season head-to-head matchup between Caitlin Clark
and Angel Reese has officially wrapped up 👀Caitlin Clark’s performance tonight:
📈 31 PTS | 8-14 FG | 5-9 3PT | 12 AST | 4 REBAngel Reese’s performance tonight:
📉 10 PTS | 4-9 FG | 0-1 3PT | 2 AST | 11 REB… pic.twitter.com/8AvUlVnNXD— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews)
August 31, 2024
Indiana’s win also assured the
Fever won the season series against the Sky, 3-1, after four such
blockbuster matchups this season.
However, it wasn’t just the
rookies who made history in today’s slate of games – the best of
the best did too. New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart surpassed
Lauren Jackson (27) for 3rd most 30+ point games in WNBA history
with her 28th 30-point game. Stewart had 32 points on an efficient
10-16 shooting with 6 rebounds and 5 assists in the Liberty’s 98-85
win against the Seattle Storm.
Breanna Stewart tonight:
⬜ 32 PTS
⬜ 10-16 FG
⬜ 6 AST
⬜ 5 REBPassed Lauren Jackson (27) for 3rd most 30+ point games in
#WNBA history 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/8A7xSCMpza— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews)
August 31, 2024
Best player in the world A’Ja
Wilson also had herself a night with a dominant 26-point,
16-rebound, 5-assist, and 5-block showing in the Las Vegas Aces’
win over the Atlanta Dream as they clinched their playoff
spot.
A’ja Wilson with another dominant night:
⬛ 26 PTS
⬛ 16 REB
⬛ 5 AST
⬛ 5 BLK
⬛ W vs. DreamAces have clinched their spot in the 2024
#WNBA Playoffs 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PwvVp88KPk— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews)
August 31, 2024
New York sits comfortably at the
top of the standings at 27-6, while defending champions Las Vegas
is currently at 4th with a 19-12 record.
