Saturday’s Sky-Fever opening game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse certainly didn’t disappoint and one player in particular is a huge reason why. The Fever walked away with a 93-58 win over the Chicago Sky in a matchup that included some on-court drama and a triple-double for star guard Caitlin Clark, as well as a double-double for Aliyah Boston.

The Fever got off to a shaky start and even trailed in the game early, but things began to fall into place for the team ahead of the third quarter.

That was when a third-quarter moment took place that set the arena and both benches on fire. Clark chopped Reese’s arm on a driving layup attempt to block her path to the basket at the 4:38 mark, pushing her to the floor. Reese immediately leaped to her feet, began screaming at Clark and Indiana’s Aliyah Boston stepped in between the two while tempers flared.

Clark’s foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 1 upon video review. Reese and Clark were asked about the foul in the aftermath, the latest chapter in the pair’s longstanding rivalry. Clark walked straight back to the bench and let her on-court performance do the talking for her (she and Boston proceeded ahead with double-doubles soon after).

“Basketball play. Refs got it right. Move on,” Reese said before dismissing a follow-up question about the play.

It was clear that Clark’s stats picked up quickly after being given the flagrant.

“It’s just a good take foul. Either Angel gets (a) wideopen two points or we send them to the free throw line,” Clark told ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “Nothing malicious about it. Every basketball player knows that.”

Reese has previously dismissed the rivalry narrative with Clark but interrupted a reporter’s question this week that centered around the Fever’s top player and the growing popularity. Previewing the Sky’s season, Reese was asked about her statement last summer centered around the WNBA having more than one marketable star, but the reporter wasn’t able to finish his statement. “Next question,” Reese said during the press conference.

Clark’s growing game led to early triple-double

Fans could sense a triple- double was coming for Clark after a strong third quarter performance, and the big moment came late in the fourth quarter. Clark was seen approaching the bench towards head coach Stephanie White and appeared to ask her to get back in the game. At that point, she was one rebound away and she pulled it down on the defensive end of the floor at the 2:26 mark, making the third triple-double of her career. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, full of Indiana Pacers players, blew the roof off the building. Clark finished the game with 20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists. If this game was any indication of how the rest of the year will go, the entire league was just put on notice and should be fully aware of the Fever’s arsenal. Clark’s composure after receiving the flagrant showed her maturation over the off-season and how she can keep her focus on leading the team to a massive victory. She polished her skills, not just from three-point range. Clark was aggressive under the basket and had smooth passes to her teammates. One play that stood out to viewers was Reese going up for a rebound and Clark snatching the ball from her after Reese two failed rebound attempts.

Last season she had two triple-doubles as a rookie. Her achievement in game one stapled her into third on the most all-time list. Chemistry will continue to grow between Clark and her teammates. There were some minor hiccups on both ends of the floor for the Fever, but time spent together in live game situations vs in practice are very different. Fans should be optimistic after Clark’s performance. They passed the first major test playing on the big stage in front of millions of viewers and this season will have a lot more of it in store for this exciting Fever team.

Fever’s DeWanna Bonner is officially a topthree scorer in WNBA history.

With her seventh point against the Chicago Sky on Saturday, she passed Tina Thompson on the alltime scoring list for third place. Bonner trails just Tina Charles and Diana Taurasi with her 7,489 career points and counting.

“I kind of got a little bit emotional,” Bonner said postgame, referencing the free throw that moved her into third place all-time. “To be at this moment, in front of a sold out crowd, in front of all this attention, and to have that moment is just pretty special to me… I’m trying to be as humble as I can, but being around [this] long, I kind of feel like I deserve that moment. And for it to happen right then and there, and in this time period in my career, I’m just so grateful.”

Now the WNBA’s thirdbest career scorer, Bonner chases down Tina Charles for the second spot on that list. Charles has 7,696 points and counting as she’s active on the Connecticut Sun roster, but for Bonner, simply winning is enough.

“I’ve been around for a while,” Bonner said. “There’s nothing that I haven’t accomplished that I want but to win another championship.”

Next up for the Fever is a two-game battle against the Atlanta Dream Tuesday and Thursday night. The Tuesday game will be played at Indiana, and the Thursday game will be played at Atlanta. Thursday’s game will start at 6:30 p.m.

X