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The Indiana Fever are set to open their 2025 WNBA season with high expectations after a promising playoff run last year. With the addition of several key veterans and the return of their young core, the Fever hope to establish themselves as a contender early, starting with a heated matchup against the Chicago Sky.
All eyes will be on Caitlin Clark, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, who averaged 19.2 points and 8.4 assists per game in her debut season. Indiana has retooled around her, adding six-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner, two-time All-Star Natasha Howard, and defensive anchor Brianna Turner. Meanwhile, former top pick Aliyah Boston and sharpshooter Kelsey Mitchell return to solidify the core.
The Chicago Sky, looking to rebound after missing last year's playoffs, are led by rookie sensation Angel Reese. The former LSU star, drafted third overall, brings grit and rebounding prowess to a Sky team that's trying to find its identity under head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. However, Chicago will be without Moriah Jefferson (leg), and Hailey Van Lith remains questionable with an ankle injury.
Tip-off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse is at 3 p.m. ET, and the crowd in Indianapolis is electric, welcoming the new-look Fever with playoff-level energy. The matchup marks a continuation of a rivalry that intensified last season, when physical play and emotional finishes became the norm between the two franchises.
Clark's leadership will be tested early, especially with Sophie Cunningham sidelined (ankle). But the backcourt duo of Clark and Mitchell is expected to carry the offensive load, while Boston and Howard control the paint.
Reese, meanwhile, is expected to debut with a strong interior presence, and ESPN's Alexa Philippou noted earlier this week that the rookie's rebounding and hustle could be a difference-maker against Indiana's frontcourt.
Follow along for real-time updates as the Fever aim to start the season with a statement win.
Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky LIVE Updates: Clark, Reese Face Off in Season Opener
End of game:
Clark: 6-13, 20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists.
Reese: 5-14, 12 points, 17 rebounds, 1 assist.
The Indiana Fever made a convincing debut in front of their fans with a 93-58 victory over the Chicago Sky.
Caitlin Clark achieves her third career triple double.
DeWanna Bonner sures Tina Thompson as the WNBA's third-leading scorer.
Indiana is already 30 points ahead, and Chicago doesn't seem to have a response.
With the game in the bag, HC White gives Clark a rest.
Chicago can't get back into the swing of things after the third-quarter incident. Reese, Vandersloot, Nurse, and Cardoso are missing shots that would normally be easy for them.
The Fever opens the fourth quarter with a bang, extending their lead to 23 points.
After the brawl, Indiana completely dominated the game. The Fever ended the third quarter with a 20-point lead.
The Fever built up a 17-point lead by the end of the third quarter.
Boston and Clark have formed an unstoppable duo in this game.
Angel Reese has two free throws, but only makes one.
Caitlin Clark receives her first flagrant foul of the season. She appeals the referees' decision, but it's to no avail.
Clark's hard foul on Reese sparks a brawl on the court. Chi-Barbie is furious with Caitlin.
Reese reached three personal fouls, just at the beginning of the third quarter.
The game restarts. Can Reese and the Sky overcome the deficit?
At halftime:
Clark: 3-9, 12 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds.
Reese: 3-8, 7 points, 1 assist, 9 rebounds.
Indiana closes the first half with a stunning three-pointer from Clark that boosts the team's morale heading into the halftime break.
Angel Reese went unnoticed throughout the second quarter. Nurse and Vandersloot kept Chicago in the fight.
The duel between Aliyah Boston and Angel Reese is heated. The Fever forward has Chi-Barbie's play under control in the paint.
Lexie Hull takes the team on her shoulders at the start of the second quarter. The star guard single-handedly maintains the team's lead.
The first quarter ends with Indiana leading 22-17. Clark and Reese have been underwhelming so far.
Despite Clark being benched due to foul trouble, the Fever maintains control of the game.
Clark gets into foul trouble very quickly. She's already got into two in just seven minutes of play.
Chicago uses its physical game to counter Indiana's three-point shooting.
The Fever is dominating the game thanks to its long-range play.
Angel Reese breaks through the ranks to score her first two points, but Clark responds with her first three-pointer of the afternoon.
Chicago opened the scoring, but Clark had already drawn his first foul and tied the score with two perfect free throws.
The crowd goes wild as Caitlin Clark comes onto the court.
The crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse is eager for the game to start.
Angel Reese will be the focus of analysts and fans alike in her debut this season. After a rookie season in which she broke records left and right, all of them marred by relentless criticism, this will be the moment for Reese to prove she's learned from her past mistakes and is ready to solidify her career in the W.
Caitlin Clark is undoubtedly the player to watch for the Indiana Fever. Entering her second year as a professional, the star guard will have the pressure to prove that her spectacular debut wasn't a fluke and that she has what it takes to etch her name in the WNBA history books.
Caitlin Clark is in the house!
You can watch the Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky game on ABC or stream it on ESPN+ or Disney+.
The game will kick off at 12:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. CT/11:00 a.m. PT) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The WNBA wasted no time delivering marquee matchups as the 2025 season heats up. Saturday's showdown between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky isn't just about kicking off the year -- it's about setting the tone for what could be one of the league's fiercest rivalries.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, two of the W's most talked-about young stars, square off for the first of five meetings this season. It's a matchup fans circled the moment the schedule dropped.
Fever's Fresh Start with Veteran Power
Indiana is coming off a perfect 3-0 preseason and looks re-energized under new head coach Stephanie White. The front office didn't waste the offseason, bringing in veteran firepower like DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Sydney Colson to balance out a young core led by Clark, 2023 No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell.
That mix of experience and talent? It's starting to feel like something real.
Sky's Rookie Core Ready to Prove It
Chicago had a solid preseason (2-1) under their own new head coach, Tyler Marsh. The Sky bring plenty of excitement with 2024 rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso ing forces with returning champion Courtney Vandersloot.
It's a fresh start in the Windy City -- and they're hoping it blows straight into playoff contention.
Midgame Spotlight: The Stats Speak for Themselves
Clark finished her rookie season averaging 19.2 points and 8.4 assists. Reese, in contrast, dominated the glass with 13.1 rebounds per game -- more than any other rookie. ESPN's Alexa Philippou noted that Reese's "grit and rebounding edge" could be a difference-maker against Indiana's frontcourt.
It's not just hype. It's real production.
Injuries and Lineups
Sophie Cunningham is out for the Fever with an ankle injury. Chicago will be without guard Moriah Jefferson (leg), and Hailey Van Lith remains questionable with an ankle tweak.
That opens the door for more touches from players like Colson and Cardoso -- and potentially shifts the tempo of the game.
What to Watch
The Caitlin-Aliyah chemistry continues to evolve, and Indiana fans are eager to see what Bonner and Howard add to the mix. Meanwhile, Reese's matchup against Boston in the paint could be physical early and often.
With two new head coaches, fresh rotations, and young stars with a lot to prove, this game could offer a preview of a playoff clash months down the road.