It's been a tale of two weekends for the WNBA's brightest young stars. While Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream are flying high, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are stuck in a tailspin. The contrast couldn't be starker as the season heats up.
Clark had a night to forget against the Portland Valkyries, shooting just 1-of-7 from the field and finishing with six points and six assists in an 88-100 loss. The Fever have now dropped two straight and sit at 4-4 on the year. To make matters worse, video surfaced of a tense exchange between Clark and head coach Stephanie White during the game, sparking fresh criticism of her demeanor.
USA TODAY columnist Nancy Armour didn't hold back, calling Clark's behavior 'petulant' and 'exhausting.' She wrote, 'There’s at least one instance every game that Clark acts as if she’s been shot after pushing off someone else or she drops to the court without ever being touched. There’s also at least one instance every game of Clark berating a referee over a call she didn’t get or one she didn’t think she deserved to get.' The scrutiny has been relentless, with fans even trolling her with 'crybaby' signs.
Meanwhile, Reese is thriving. The Dream improved to 5-2 after Reese dropped 18 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out five assists, shooting 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. It was her best performance of the season, and the praise is pouring in. While Clark has generally been the more productive player over their two-plus years in the league, Reese is clearly peaking at the right time.
The divergent paths have fans buzzing about a potential playoff showdown. Their college matchups were electric, and a WNBA postseason clash would be must-see TV. But for now, the two stars are on very different trajectories: Reese surging, Clark struggling. Both have plenty to prove as the season rolls on.
