The arrival of rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese in the WNBA reignited one of the most exciting rivalries in women’s basketball. Especially given their history from the 2023 NCAA title game. Their entry has cleanly split the league’s fanbase into two camps: those backing the Indiana Fever and those supporting the Chicago Sky. While both players have sparked intense passion among their supporters, what if one of these rookies were to wish for a victory for her rival team? Sounds unreal, but it might happen, at least according to one ESPN analyst.

Recently, Elle Duncan and Gary Striewski had a chat about the Indiana Fever’s strategy for the rest of the regular season. As Duncan delved into the Fever’s upcoming games against teams vying for the final playoff spot, her co-host pointed out a quirky scenario that could unfold from these critical games. “You know what’s so funny about that is like they have to play the Dream and although we’ve pitted this whole the Sky and the Fever hate on one another. There’s not going to be any bigger Indiana Fever fans when the Fever play the Dream than the Chicago Sky,” said Striewski via The Elle Duncan Show.

While Caitlin Clark and her team have already clinched a playoff spot, her rival, Angel Reese, is still fighting for one with the Sky. The final available playoff seed is up for grabs among four teams, including the Atlanta Dream, who will face off against the Fever next. The ESPN analyst pointed out, “They [The Sky and the Dream] are neck in neck for the eighth and final playoff spot so they need all of the help that they can possibly get.”

Currently, Chicago is holding the eighth spot in the standings. They are tied with Atlanta at 12-22, both teams in close contention for that final playoff spot, Angel Reese and Sky fans will have no choice but to cheer for Caitlin Clark and her team when they go up against the Dream this Sunday. While it might be a tough task for the hot-blooded Windy City loyalists, Angel Reese will not have an issue cheering for Clark.

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark’s mutual respect

In the debut episode of Unapologetically Angel, the LSU alum opened up about her apparent rivalry with Caitlin Clark. “Caitlin is an amazing player and I’ve always thought she was an amazing player. We’ve been playing each other since high school,” Reese shared. For fans who have followed their dynamic, this was yet another confirmation of the mutual respect between the two, despite the fierce competition on the court.

In a conversation earlier, Angel Reese didn’t shy away from expressing her admiration for her Rookie of the Year frontrunner. “Oh my gosh, I love Caitlin. We’ve been competing since our AAU days,” she said. Interestingly, the respect is mutual. Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever rookie, has also spoken up in support of Reese, stating, “I don’t think Angel should be criticized at all.”

As their rookie seasons near the finish line, an unexpected twist could be on the horizon. To secure the final playoff spot, Angel Reese might find herself cheering for her longtime rival, Caitlin Clark, this Sunday. But only time will tell if the Iowa sensation will return the favor and win the season series over Atlanta and bounce back from their home defeat to the Lynx or Chicago will finally drop out of the playoff seeds.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.