Despite an aggressive defense from the Atlanta Dream, the Indiana Fever never seemed to slump like they usually would. Considering that and knowing their pattern of fourth-quarter chases, it was hard to wonder that the Fever would lose 108-101 at home. Even Caitlin Clark fan and longtime sports commentator Skip Bayless could not believe it. So, even though he acknowledged his mistake, he couldn’t help but point out how happy Angel Reese seemed.
“I was wrong about Caitlin Clark & Fever,” Bayless wrote in an X post after the game. “With her benched with 5 fouls, they did battle back from 9 down to tie. But Angel Reese (21 & 11) & the Dream prevailed – & did she ever appear to enjoy beating her arch rival. Caitlin didn’t return until 3:28 left, didn’t score in the 4th.”
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It was yet another more or less complete game offensively for the Fever, where the Big 3 scored 20+ points. They were also able to tie the game 93-93 with 5:07 remaining. However, with their offensive point guard still sitting on the bench with her five fouls, the team took a hit.
Meanwhile, the Dream took advantage of the Fever’s many turnovers, including some crucial clutch ones, to get an edge. While Clark returned with 3:28 left in the game and the Dream leading 95-93, she could not score.
On paper, the Dream is a much better team in clutch situations, having won 4-1 in such circumstances. The Fever, meanwhile, have won 4-4. Clark sitting out only made it worse. But what Bayless mentioned only adds to the apparent feud between the two 2024 draftees.
Beyond just the win, Reese also appeared to enjoy one of the foul whistles against Clark. The broadcast actually caught her smiling after a Clark foul in the second quarter.
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But this is not to say Caitlin Clark had an entirely poor game. Even though she did not score in the fourth quarter at all, she still ended the game with 26 points, two rebounds, and seven assists. Her five turnovers didn’t help her, though, on the night she was debuting her first signature shoes: Caitlin 1. However, it did prove Bayless wrong.
Before the fourth quarter kicked off, he had already vetted his bets against the Dream, knowing how the Fever usually finds its groove by the final period.
“OK, this game sets up perfectly for Caitlin Clark to come back to beat Angel Reese and Atlanta,” Bayless posted on his X page during the game. “Fever down 9 at home going to the 4th. Caitlin has 26. Watch this.”
Things didn’t work out for any party. She and the Fever team, however, have another chance to redeem themselves tomorrow, as they play the Dream again to continue their home-and-home series.
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Angel Reese Ends Losing Streak Against Caitlin Clark With Atlanta Dream Win
While there is quite a strong rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, the reality of their head-to-head encounters has mostly been one-sided. Before the most recent Dream-Fever game, the two had met six times. And in those six meetings, Reese won only once.
Five of those six meetings took place while Reese was with the Chicago Sky. And the only win she recorded came during her rookie season in 2024. Since then, the next four games against Caitlin Clark had resulted in a loss for her team. That made it a total of four consecutive losses.
The last loss took place this season in the Dream-Fever matchup on June 4. But for Reese and the Dream, that losing streak has now ended.
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They will be hoping to make it two straight wins against Clark and the Fever in the rematch tomorrow. In the same vein, Caitlin Clark and Indiana will be plotting their revenge. Either way, it sets up another interesting spectacle for fans.
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The post “Appear to Enjoy Beating Her Arch Rival”: Skip Bayless Reignites Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese Narrative After Dream Hands Fever 6th WNBA Loss appeared first on EssentiallySports. Add EssentiallySports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
