WNBA Preview: Indiana Fever (15-16) vs Chicago Sky (11-19)

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Indiana Fever logo

It’s Caitlin Clark against Angel Reese for the fifth time in 2024 when the Indiana Fever travel to Chicago to face the Sky on Friday night.

Both teams are clinging to the final two spots in the WNBA playoffs. Indiana is 15-16 overall and in seventh place, while Chicago is 11-19, one game ahead of the Atlanta Dream for the last spot.

Clark leads the head-to-head series 3-1 this year, counting her victory at Iowa over Reese’s LSU squad in the women’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. As professionals, Clark and the Fever have won twice, but the Sky won the last meeting by a point.

Both players have made their mark in the WNBA. Clark leads the league in assists with 8.1 assists per game and set the rookie record for 3-pointers made in a win over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday night. She has 88 on the season.

Reese leads the WNBA with 12.9 rebounds a game and has 24 straight games with at least 10 rebounds, but the Sky have struggled offensively. Chicago stands 11th in field-goal percentage (42.3) and 10th in 3-point shooting (30.9).

The two also were teammates on Team WNBA when it beat Team USA (Olympic team) in the All-Star Game.

Chicago has dropped five of six games since returning from the Olympic break, including losing a seven-point lead with under five minutes left Wednesday to Washington.

Indiana is 4-1 since the Olympic break and seeking its first playoff spot since 2016. While much of the attention goes to Clark, her teammate Kelsey Mitchell leads the Fever with 18.3 points a game and became the first player in franchise history with five straight games of 20 or more points when she scored 23 in Wednesday’s 84-80 win over the Sun.

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WNBA Editor
Profile: A dedicated WNBA analyst with a deep understanding of the league’s tactical evolution, player‑development pathways, and expanding cultural impact. This columnist provides comprehensive coverage that blends advanced metrics, film study, and league‑wide context to highlight the storylines shaping modern professional women’s basketball. Background: With extensive experience covering the WNBA and women’s basketball at multiple levels, the columnist has contributed to national sports outlets and digital platforms, offering perspective on coaching trends, roster construction, and organizational strategy. A background in sports journalism and analytics supports a disciplined approach to evaluating performance, interpreting data, and tracking team progression throughout the season. Signature Coverage Areas: Game previews and matchup analysis Film‑based breakdowns of offensive and defensive systems Player evaluation, draft analysis, and free‑agency movement Team‑building strategy, salary‑cap dynamics, and front‑office trends Historical context, league milestones, and postseason features Style & Approach: The writing emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and accessibility — translating complex schemes and statistical models into insights that resonate with both long‑time WNBA fans and new followers of the league. Each column reflects a commitment to balanced reporting, thoughtful evaluation, and a deep appreciation for the WNBA’s growth, competitiveness, and influence on the broader basketball landscape.