The WNBA is set to pick up where it left off for the start of the 2025 season: Capitalizing on the star power of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
The schedule for next year’s upcoming season was released earlier this week, with the WNBA set to make a statement with its opening slate.
Rivals Clark and Reese are slated to instantly face off in a blockbuster showdown when the Indiana Fever take on the Chicago Sky on May 17 in both teams’ first game of the season.
The pair faced off four times as rookies last season with Clark coming out on top in three of their clashes.
She also got the best of her rival in the race for Rookie of the Year but Reese’s lone vote blocked her from the unanimous sweep for the awards.
Their blockbuster rivalry, which dates back to their collegiate days, was top billing for the WNBA last season, drawing in large crowds.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will face off in their opening game of the 2025 WNBA season
The league (pictured commissioner Cathy Engelbert) will continue to cash in on their star power
One of the matchups between the Sky and the Fever was sellout, with the Gainbridge Fieldhouse hosting more than 17,000 fans for the fourth time during the 2024 regular season.
An August home game for Chicago against Indiana also drew in a sellout crowd of 9,445 to Wintrust Arena on Barbie Night — a nod to Reese’s college nickname at LSU, Bayou Barbie.
NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal, as well as Sue Bird and soccer star Megan Rapinoe even graced the stands.
Following their opening clash, Reese and Clark will face off four more times throughout the 2025 season with the WNBA clearly cashing in on their appeal.
The May 17 showdown will also mark debuts for new head coaches for both teams. Stephanie White will take charge of Clark and the Fever for the first time after Christie Sides’ departure this offseason, while Tyler Marsh will replace the fired Teresa Weatherspoon for the Sky.
Meanwhile, 2024 champions, the New York Liberty, will host their ring ceremony on May 17 before their matchup with the Las Vegas Aces.
The league will officially raise the curtain the day before with Atlanta Dream at Washington Mystics and Minnesota Lynx at Dallas Wings opening the season at 7:30pm ET.
The league’s latest expansion team, the Golden State Valkyries, will make their bow, on May 16, staging their first home game at Chase Center against the Los Angeles Sparks at 10pm ET.
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