In a spectacular night for the WNBA All-Stars, who defeated Team USA in the league’s All-Star game, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese both set records.
The WNBA’s two most notable rookies and rivals were part of the winning team in Phoenix, despite neither making the Americans’ Olympic roster.
Clark set the rookie record for assists in an All-Star Game, with 10. She fell two assists short of the all-time All-Star Game record of 12, held by Sue Bird.
Bird sat next to her wife and soccer legend Megan Rapinoe during the game.
Reese became the first rookie to record a double-double in WNBA All-Star Game history.
Caitlin Clark set the rookie record for assists in a WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday night
Angel Reese became the first rookie in WNBA All-Star Game history to record a double-double
The Chicago Sky star had 12 points and 11 rebounds in the WNBA All Stars’ 117-109 win over Team USA.
The rivalry between Clark and Reese is well documented at the college and professional levels.
In addition to the 2023 national championship game between Reese’s LSU and Clark’s Iowa, the Tigers and Hawkeyes also met in the Elite Eight earlier this year. Iowa won, ending LSU’s bid to regain the title in what turned out to be Reese’s final college game.
Clark was drafted six spots ahead of Reese in the WNBA Draft in April, and the two have faced each other three times as professionals.
Clark’s Indiana Fever won the first two matchups, with Reese’s Chicago Sky emerging victorious in the most recent matchup. Those games were filled with tense moments between Clark and a Sky player.
On June 1, Clark was bodychecked by Chennedy Carter, an action that was seen by fans as an act inconsistent with the basketball team’s good intentions.
Carter declined to answer questions about the matter during a post-game press conference, but he reiterated his words online: “What else does she have to offer besides three-pointers?” on Threads.
On June 16, Reese committed a major foul on Clark when the former LSU star missed a block attempt and struck Clark in the head with her arm, sending her rival to the ground in pain.
Reese also spoke negatively about Clark and her team to the press, claiming they had a “special whistle.”
However, it appears that the mutual animosity between Clark and Reese only exists as adversaries.