Angel Reese's Dream will have key edge in possible playoff showdown with Caitlin Clark

Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream could have a key advantage over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever if the two teams meet in the WNBA playoffs this season.

Clark and the Indiana Fever will be looking to end the 2026 season strongly as they chase their first WNBA championship since 2012.

Meanwhile, Reese returns to the Atlanta Dream after helping Clark and Team USA win gold at the FIBA World Cup. The forward will now turn her attention to the postseason and look to carry her international form into the Dream’s title bid.

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The Dream is locked into the No. 4 seed in the WNBA playoffs, while the Fever will finish either fifth or sixth with one regular-season game remaining. That means Atlanta would have home-court advantage if the Dream and Fever meet in the postseason.

If the current seeding holds through the final days of the regular season, fans will be treated to the first playoff series between Clark and Reese in WNBA history.

Just three seasons into her WNBA career, Reese has already made her mark statistically. She recently recorded her 32nd double-double of the season, extending her WNBA record while tying Hall of Famer Yolanda Griffith for 12th-most in league history.

Clark is also putting together a standout 2026 season for the Indiana Fever, averaging 22.8 points and 8.5 assists per game. She remains among the league leaders in both scoring and assists as the regular season draws to a close.

Atlanta is 30-14 heading into the final day of the regular season and sit at the top of the Eastern Conference. The Dream are averaging 91.3 points while allowing 84.5 per game, with Reese averaging 12.3 rebounds and Allisha Gray leading the team with 18.9 points.

Indiana is 28-15 heading into its final regular-season game and has already secured a playoff spot. The Fever are averaging 97.0 points per game, with Kelsey Mitchell leading the team in scoring and Clark averaging 8.5 assists per game

The teams split their four regular-season meetings 2-2. Indiana won the opener 83-71 before Atlanta took the next two 108-101 and 113-96. The Fever won the most recent meeting 95-91 in overtime on August 16, with Atlanta averaging 95.8 points and Indiana 93.8 across the series.

Atlanta has been more productive at home, averaging 94.0 points per game compared with 89.0 on the road, while shooting 45.0% from the field at home and 43.7% away.

Indiana shows a similar split, averaging 100.4 points at home and 93.7 on the road. The Fever also shoot 49.9% at home compared with 48.4% away.

The two stars have been linked throughout their careers, with their rivalry first taking shape during their college days before continuing into the WNBA. Following Team USA’s gold medal victory over France, Clark pushed back on media narratives suggesting a bitter personal feud, stating that the two have always been friendly competitors.

During Team USA's dominant run, including a 108-56 quarterfinal win over Hungary, the duo developed strong chemistry, connecting on pick-and-rolls and fast-break assists.

Both players have publicly praised each other's competitive drive. Clark highlighted Reese's relentless motor and work ethic, while Reese embraced the fun of sharing the floor and setting up easy scores for Clark. “She’s got it for me a lot of times so it’s probably finally due for me to get one to her and she easily finished it,” Reese said smiling after the hungary game.