INDIANAPOLIS (AP) 鈥� Year 1 of the Clark & Reese Show has been unlike anything has ever seen.
Sure, this season鈥檚 final chapter is still unscripted with the playoffs set to start Sunday. But the rookie seasons and attention and have had makes the league's outlook extremely bright beyond this postseason.
Sold out arenas became the norm. helped expand the fan base. Clark, Reese, the presumptive league MVP A鈥檍a Wilson and others continually chased record-breaking statistics. And routine conversations and social media posts spurred sometimes heated debates about everything from basketball to culture.
鈥淲atching the basketball that鈥檚 been played this season and the talent that鈥檚 been on the floor across the league, it鈥檚 been phenomenal,鈥� Chicago Sky veteran Lindsay Allen said. 鈥淭he two rookies, Caitlin and Angel 鈥� Angel has been huge for us and has been setting records. The basketball has been at a very, very high level and the interest has been, too.鈥�
It鈥檚 impossible to ignore how much the sport has evolved since Clark, Reese and arguably the best rookie class in league history arrived in April. The timing for the league was perfect, too.
Clark and Reese brought the swagger, confidence and passion they exuded in a rivalry that captivated college basketball fans. That momentum continued into the pros and has elevated the profile of everyone around the league.
And as much as everyone attempted to manage the lofty expectations, Clark and Reese, in particular, exceeded them.
The Indiana Fever guard鈥檚 resume includes rookie records for scoring (761), 3-pointers (120) and All-Star Game assists (10). She broke the league鈥檚 single-game (19) and single-season records for assists (329) while becoming the first rookie to ever post a triple-double. Now, she believes a title run is possible in the playoffs.
鈥淥nce we get there, I think it鈥檒l feel a little more real and, obviously, we鈥檙e not just happy to be there,鈥� said Clark, who helped Indiana in league history at seven years. 鈥淲e really believe we can compete with every single team that鈥檚 going to be in the playoffs. Obviously, the only team we didn鈥檛 beat this year was the (Las Vegas) Aces and the only way we would see them, I think, would be in the Finals.鈥�
Reese was equally efficient, , in her impressive season.
The Chicago rookie forward established new league marks for single-season rebounds (446), offensive rebounds (172) and overall rebounding average (13.1). Though Reese didn鈥檛 hold the single-season rebound record long because Wilson broke it while Reese was sidelined with a season-ending injury.
Reese did become the first rookie with an All-Star Game double-double, and she became the first WNBA player to record back-to-back games of 20 or more rebounds while her 24 double-doubles broke the league鈥檚 rookie record.
The only real disappointment has been that ended Reese鈥檚 season after 34 games, an absence that could keep the Sky out of the playoffs and possibly throw a wrench into Reese鈥檚 Rookie of the Year hopes.
The Clark-Reese dynamic continues to fuel debates among fans 鈥� similar to the barbershop discussions about Larry Bird-Magic Johnson in 1980 when they each played leading roles as rookies.
Their polarizing personas put Clark & Reese squarely in the middle of discussions about everything from hard fouls to technical fouls, even cultural issues 鈥� including sexuality and race.
But there鈥檚 no doubt that their presence 鈥� and their rivalry 鈥� opened the door to more endorsements and more fan engagement, including children who increasingly showed up in the players鈥� jerseys long before tip-off.
From the in northwestern Indiana to Reese鈥檚 presence on in Chicago to promote blue jeans or the tears of joy streaming down the cheeks of Wilson and her teammates when she broke the league鈥檚 single-season scoring record at Indiana, everyone seems to have a favorite moment.
鈥淚鈥檝e been in this league long enough to play alongside some amazing players, Hall of Fame players and this one is no different,鈥� Aces forward Alysha Clark said, wiping her eyes while sitting next to Wilson. 鈥淲hen you have players of this caliber playing now, appreciate that because one day she鈥檚 not going to be here. She鈥檚 going to retire and go on to live her life and people are going to marvel at what she鈥檚 done and I鈥檓 like, 鈥楳arvel at it now.鈥欌��
Fans of Clark and Reese share similar sentiments about the two 22-year-olds who seem destined to be the face of the league for years to come and cornerstone pieces on the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team.
But it鈥檚 not just a bright future for the rookies, it鈥檚 also a bright future in a league that has seen ticket demand and visibility soar while playing in front of packed arenas.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen just a huge amount of people talking about the WNBA, talking about the Fever,鈥� said Indiana guard Lexie Hull. 鈥淚 think a lot of that comes from people being invested in the college game and then coming over, following the players they like, following the 鈥橶鈥� and it鈥檚 pretty incredible.鈥�
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AP Sports Writer Andrew Seligman in Chicago also contributed to this report.
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AP WNBA:
Michael Marot, The Associated Press
