Two basketball rivals — Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese — were donning the same jersey for the first time as professionals in a Team WNBA practice in Friday.
And the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s WNBA draft got the best of the top selection — at least in one chance during a friendly competition.
The Indiana Fever’s Clark and Chicago Sky’s Reese both were seen taking half-court shots at Friday’s WNBA All-Star Game practice, with the former missing hers and the latter sinking her bucket to much applause from her teammates.
The two rookies, taking part in All-Star weekend, were preparing for Saturday’s game against the superstar-laden Team USA at Footprint Center.
The rookies also ran a pick-and-roll to perfection.
Reese finished the layup off the glass, which came from Clark’s whizzing bounce pass.
At a different moment, Clark and Reese were working on shooting mechanics, and they drained shots simultaneously — sparking plenty of excitement on social media.
The rivalry between Clark and Reese dates back to the collegiate days — specifically, the 2023 NCAA title game.
Reese, who won the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, led the LSU Tigers to its first championship after beating Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes, 102-85.
During the 2023-24 season, the roles were reversed: Clark got revenge in the Elite Eight, sending Reese home and ending her college career.
Turning the page to their budding WNBA careers, the rivalry has intensified over three games between their two teams.
In a June 16 game, where the Fever won 91-83, Clark was bashed in the head by Reese, who was called for a flagrant foul.
That came after a game earlier in June in which the Sky’s Chennedy Carter knocked down Clark with a hard off-ball foul, which led to Reese jumping off the bench and clapping.
However, Clark and Reese will now join forces for Saturday’s highly anticipated matchup.
Clark, averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.5 steals, voiced her excitement despite the tension when they are in different uniforms.
Earlier this week, she also set the WNBA single-game record with 19 assists in a loss to the Dallas Wings.
“I’m pretty excited,” Clark said Thursday on the red carpet as All-Star weekend kicked off. “I think it’s cool. It’s obviously rare to have two rookies in the All-Star Game, so I just think enjoy that.”
Meanwhile, Reese, averaging 13.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 steals on the season, took a different approach.
“I’m looking forward to it,” she said in an interview on Friday. “Everybody can wear their ‘get along’ shirts for one day at least.”
