May 17 will be the date that fanbases around the WNBA will finally see the 2025 regular season raise its curtain. The opening night will see the highly anticipated debut of Paige Bueckers for the Dallas Wings, the Golden State Valkyries begin their epic journey as a franchise, and the reigning champions, New York Liberty, look to claim an early statement victory against the resurgent Las Vegas Aces.
However, one mouth-watering fixture on the slate will see two teams fiercely face off as they both attempt to chalk their first mark in the win column. Both Chicago and Indiana will have their sights firmly set on a playoff berth come the end of the season, but which two key matchups can sway the pendulum in favour of their franchises and steal the early-season bragging rights?
Courtney Vandersloot versus Caitlin Clark
In terms of playmaking and orchestrating an offense, there are few more ingenious point guards in the WNBA than the legendary Courtney Vandersloot and sensational Caitlin Clark. Indiana's generational star showcased her elite creative talents during her rookie year by smashing the single-season rookie assists record, finishing the campaign with 337 assists.
Nevertheless, her veteran opponent will not be fazed by the media furor and accolades that surround the impressive sophomore. Vandersloot is arguably the greatest pass-first point guard to ever grace a WNBA court. Coming off the back of winning a championship with the Liberty, the five-time WNBA All-Star has exhibited no signs of Father Time affecting her magnificent passing attributes during the preseason with Chicago, as she has averaged five assists over two games.
The 36-year-old will aim to prevent her younger counterpart from igniting a spark in the reconstructed Fever roster that is now littered with championship-level talent, such as DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Sydney Colson. Vandersloot has chalked up 2.5 steals per match since returning to the Sky, a statistic that must translate into the opening matchup with the Fever if the Sky have any chance of limiting the destruction that the 2024 Rookie of the Year can cause.
When Indiana faced off with New York in 2024, the two-time WNBA champion came out triumphant in the season series, winning three of the four matchups. Despite only clocking up 87 minutes on the court over the four games, Vandersloot stole the ball on four occasions, dished out 20 assists for her teammates, and scored 30 points while shooting 62 percent from the floor. Clark also scored 53 points and provided 32 assists for her colleagues—numbers that Chicago's inventive guard will have to limit to propel her franchise to victory.
Angel Reese versus Natasha Howard
As the seventh overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Angel Reese shouldered more responsibility and pressure than most rookies have ever endured. Even with the exciting veteran acquisition of sharpshooter Ariel Atkins and the fairytale return of Vandersloot, there is a minuscule chance of this changing in her sophomore year. Reese's first arduous task will come in the inaugural game of the 2025 campaign as she faces off against three-time WNBA champion Natasha Howard.
The 2024 Rookie of the Year runner-up had a stunning first year in professional basketball, averaging 13.6 points and a monumental 13.1 rebounds per game. But it was the star's inefficiency that caused concern across the Sky's fanbase as she finished the year by shooting a worrying 39.1 percent from the floor.
This is an issue that reared its head above the parapet during her last outing against the Minnesota Lynx, as her field-goal percentage sank to just 25 percent on the night. However, it should be highlighted that despite all the fanfare about Reese's arrival into the league, it was easy to forget that this was a transition period for the star as she transitioned from the NCAA into a physically challenging league.
Howard is a resilient two-way player who is going to give the LSU graduate serious problems on both sides of the floor. The 2019 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year scored 17.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game for a struggling Dallas Wings team last season. Chicago's 23-year-old forward will have to be at her physical best and dominate on the glass to restrict the effectiveness of her opponent. Reese must prioritise offensive rebounds, which would result in second-chance opportunities for both Howard and her teammates.
Not only must Reese be defensively astute to dominate this key matchup, but she must be aggressive on offense and demonstrate the intimidating presence she can resemble under the basket. The 6-foot-3 forward has provided evidence that she is ready to take the next step in her offensive development. During the narrow defeat to Minnesota, she dished out five assists for her teammates and registered an efficient performance against the Brazilian national team earlier in the preseason, scoring 15 points in 17 minutes while shooting a much-improved 57 percent from the floor.
Angel Reese will have a vital role in Chicago's rotation this year, and there are not many more challenging opening night matchups than Natasha Howard. If the sophomore can record a statement performance against a superstar of the league and drag her franchise to an impressive victory, the Sky may begin to alter their ambitions for the 2025 campaign.