The rivalry that ignited during the 2023 NCAA Final took bigger stage again in 2024 as Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark stepped onto the WNBA scene. Their clash in the 2023 NCAA Finals had already set the stage for what could be an exciting showdown. Angel Reese’s classy “you can’t see me” gestures stirred quite the buzz, sparking debates across social media. While some rallied behind Caitlin Clark, others were captivated by Reese’s bold attitude, instantly becoming her fans.

In 2024, these former college basketball stars made their much-anticipated debuts in the WNBA, facing off multiple times throughout the season. As the year wraps up, let’s rewind and revisit the top five moments where Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s rivalry stole the spotlight and had fans buzzing.

 5. WNBA Draft meet: (April 15, 2024)

After four successful years in college basketball, Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark were ready to take the next step in their careers by entering the WNBA. But first, they had to go through the exciting WNBA Drafts in mid-April. Given their intense rivalry, especially since Reese joined LSU, fans were eagerly anticipating the moment they’d see these two stars at the event where their WNBA futures would be decided.

At the draft, Clark was selected as the No. 1 pick by the Fever, while Reese was picked 7th by the Chicago Sky. Despite their fierce rivalry and the difference in their draft positions, the two showed no signs of tension between them. In fact, they even posed for pictures together, with everyone recognizing them as the next big rising stars of the year.

But the real action was yet to come, as the following months promised some intense matchups between the two.

4. Pro stage debut: Reese vs. Clark – (June 1, 2024)

The WNBA season kicked off in May, but fans had to wait until June for the highly anticipated matchup between the star rookies. By the time the Indiana Fever played their 10th game against the Windy City, Clark’s team had struggled, winning just one of their first nine games. On the other hand, Reese’s team had fared better, securing three wins out of their six games.

As predicted, the showdown was an absolute nail-biter, with the Fever narrowly edging out the visitors 71-70. While the home team celebrated a hard-fought victory, neither Clark nor Reese delivered their most dominant performances. Clark contributed 11 points and 8 assists, showcasing her playmaking skills, while “Chi-Town Barbie” put up 8 points but flexed her dominance on the boards with an impressive 13 rebounds.

However, the game’s defining moment wasn’t in the score line but in a heated third-quarter exchange that had everyone talking. Sky’s Chennedy Carter stormed toward Caitlin Clark, delivering a shoulder shove that sent the Fever star crashing to the floor. To add fuel to the fire, it was observed that Carter muttered, “You b–ch,” just before the shove. The referees slapped Carter with a Flagrant 1 violation, awarding Clark a free throw, which she confidently sank.

But what really set the fans buzzing was Angel Reese’s reaction. Sharp-eyed viewers caught Reese seemingly celebrating Carter’s aggressive move against her rival, sparking even more drama in an already fiery rivalry. Nevertheless, despite all the tension and drama, the first showdown between Reese and Clark proved to be a nail-biter, ultimately ending in favor of the Iowa alum.

3. Angel Reese’s revenge opportunity – (June 15, 2024)

Just a couple of weeks after their intense first matchup, the Fever and Sky were set to face off once more at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. After a narrow yet humiliating loss to her archrival Caitlin Clark, it seemed like Reese was out for revenge, determined to get the win. But once again, she and the Chicago Sky fell short, leaving fans disappointed and wondering what went wrong.

The Chicago Sky took another hit with a crushing 91-83 defeat. This time, it was Caitlin Clark who stole the spotlight, leading the Fever with an impressive 23 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds. Meanwhile, Reese improved from their last encounter, securing a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds, but her scoring still fell short.

The Sky #5 couldn’t quite make the impact needed to change the outcome, leaving her quest for revenge unfinished. However, she’ll get another shot in just 10 days.

2. Angel Reese’s comeback stunned as Caitlin Clark faces setback – (June 23, 2024)

In a twist of fate, the Fever and Sky clashed for the third time in the same month, and this time, it was supposed to be Angel Reese’s revenge. Unlike the previous matchups where the Fever had home-court advantage, this time they traveled to Wintrust Arena, hoping for a change in fortune. But guess what? The script stayed the same, and once again, the home team, Chicago, narrowly secured the win by just a single point (88-87).

Well, Reese who displayed a lackluster performance in past matchups, shone brightest on that night and recorded 25 points along with 16 rebounds. It was the game high indivicual score and also was part of Reese’s record breaking consecutive double-double streak. Clark fell short of Reese’s individual score and recorded 17 points. However, her playmaking didn’t fade away as she recorded 13 points as well.

Despite this being their final showdown before the All-Star break, the tension between these two rivals only intensified. Ironically, both players found themselves on the same team during the All-Star game. But when they faced off again in August, it wasn’t Reese who got to make a statement by tying the series. Instead, it was Clark’s Fever who handed the Sky their third loss in the four-game series, leaving Reese’s revenge still unfulfilled.

However, the most intense moment of this rivalry came long before they ever set foot in the WNBA. It all went down during March Madness, when Clark and Reese clashed on the college court in April.

1. March Madness: The final showdown of their college rivalry – (April 1, 2024)

In April, LSU and Iowa were ready to clash in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, and for Caitlin Clark, this was personal. After a crushing defeat in the 2023 Final to Angel Reese’s LSU, the Des Moines native was on a mission for revenge. And Clark delivered, leading Iowa to a dominant 94-87 victory over Kim Mulkey’s squad, sending LSU packing from the tournament.

Clark was on fire, dropping a jaw-dropping 41 points, along with 12 assists and 7 rebounds, completely overshadowing her rival. On the other hand, Angel Reese had a solid performance with 17 points and a double-double, pulling down 20 rebounds. But it was Clark who stole the show, leading Iowa to a stunning victory and setting records straight for 2023 loss.

While these five moments showcased the intensity of the Reese-Clark rivalry in 2024, their seasons ended in starkly different ways. A season-ending injury cut Reese’s campaign short in the final week of the regular season, while the Connecticut Sun knocked Clark and the Fever out in the first round, despite ending an 8-year playoff drought.

Clark’s undeniable impact on the league and the Fever’s performance ultimately earned her Rookie of the Year honors. Still, it begs the question: how will this fierce rivalry play out when they clash again in 2025?