For WNBA rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, their landmark rookie seasons have focused on establishing themselves as a force in the league. They've done that and more, vaulting the league into a new level of visibility in the mainstream sports world and creating a new rivalry that's been fun to watch.
They're playing a brand-new game now, though. The goal is to make the playoffs and at least make a run, and given what's happened to date no one would be surprised if either team did that, the Fever especially.
Can Caitlin Clark an the playoff jump
We've seen Caitlin Clark make some amazing jumps this year. She's gone from NCAA Final Four hero to stellar Fever rookie, and she's looked especially sharp now that she had a chance to rest a little and catch her breath during the Olympic break.
Now, she might face her biggest challenge of all--getting Indiana into the playoffs and making a competitive run. The Fever haven't made the playoffs since 2016, but it's impossible not to watch Clark and think that's about to change given the growth she's showing.
Indiana's recent record indicates that it's a strong possibility. The Fever have been 10-5 since mid-June, and that run includes victories over New York, Minnesota, and Seattle.
More importantly, Clark seems to be hitting a new level with her floor game. She's setting records left and right, most recently on the assist front, and her teammates are starting to figure her out as well, especially Aliyah Boston.
No one knows where her game will be by September, but that's part of the fun of watching her. Every Caitlin Clark game feels like an event now, and that trend isn't going away any time soon as long as she backs up the hype on the court. And that's what she's been about to date.
Angel Reese faces a tougher path
The path to playoff success is a lot harder for Angel Reese. She's established herself as a dominant force, but the Sky have struggled to stay ahead of the Atlanta Dream in the standings.
The first order of business for Reese is to boost the Sky closer to .500 and, take care of business against Atlanta and secure a playoff berth. That won't be as easy for her as it likely will for Clark, given that she's a post player who isn't a particularly good passer right now, not to mention her low shooting percentage to date.
If she can get Chicago into the postseason, the Sky's first-round matchup may be an exercise in getting playoff experience. The Sky have yet to win three games in a row this year, which doesn't bode especially well for getting Chicago up to .500 or being anything more than a token opponent into the first round.
Like Caitlin Clark, though, Angel Reese has a way of doing things we've never seen before. It wouldn't be a surprise for her to carry the Sky into the playoffs, where they'd be the proverbial opponent no one wants to play because of Reese's formidable inside game.
The Competition
The big problem here is that Clark and Reese will be facing a formidable opponent if they do make it into the postseason. The Liberty, Sun, Lynx, and Storm are sitting at 1-4 in the overall standings, and these are teams that no one wants to play. The experience factor will be huge in a first-round season, so the learning curve for both rookies will be immense, to say the least.