On Saturday, June 7, 2025, the Chicago Sky hosted the Indiana Fever in a historic WNBA matchup—the very first women's basketball game ever played at Chicago's iconic United Center. This marked a significant milestone for the league, the teams, and the city, as the Sky temporarily moved their highly-anticipated Fever matchup from their usual home at Wintrust Arena downtown to the larger and more storied United Center.
The game, however, did not unfold as many fans might have hoped. Indiana dominated the Sky with a commanding 79-52 victory, handing Chicago their second loss to the Fever this season. The Fever's win was even more impressive considering they were without their star player, Caitlin Clark, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, who missed her fourth consecutive game due to a left quadriceps strain. Clark, who has been a driving force for Indiana, sat on the sidelines watching the nationally televised primetime game, leaving fans sporting her jerseys somewhat disappointed.
Clark, speaking to reporters on Thursday, June 5, shared an update on her injury, which she sustained during Indiana's loss to the New York Liberty on May 24. "I feel like I've made a lot of progress," Clark said. "I'm not going to rush coming back. It's just not worth it. But after this weekend I'll be re-evaluated and we'll have a better idea." She added that the injury likely occurred early in that game, and an MRI revealed the unfortunate diagnosis. Despite her absence, the Fever have managed a 1-2 record in the three games since Clark's injury. This season, Clark has been averaging 19.0 points, 9.3 assists, and 6.0 rebounds, underscoring her importance to the team.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Sky entered the game with a challenging backdrop. They finished the 2024-25 season with a 6-14 home record and 5-15 in Eastern Conference play, averaging 77.4 points per game with shooting percentages of 42.2% from the field and 32.4% from beyond the arc. Indiana, conversely, ended that season at an even 20-20 overall and 11-9 in conference games, averaging 20.4 assists per game on 31.3 made field goals. The statistical contrast reflected in the game’s outcome.
Sky coach Tyler Marsh, in his first season leading the team, reflected on the significance of playing at the United Center. Marsh recalled working the 2020 NBA All-Star game at the venue as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors and his first WNBA All-Star game two years later at Wintrust Arena. "It’s an incredible moment for this league," Marsh said. "It’s an incredible moment for our team and our staff and our city, really. I think that’s the cool part about it is we get to represent our city in this building on a historic night. It’s not lost among us how important and significant it is — and for myself to be part of that and to represent the W in that capacity, to represent the Sky in that capacity, is something that I don’t take for granted."
The matchup was originally expected to highlight the rivalry between two of the league's brightest young stars: Chicago’s Angel Reese and Indiana’s Caitlin Clark. Both players had garnered national attention for their collegiate rivalry and their dynamic styles that have helped elevate the league's popularity. Reese, who has been a key figure for the Sky, addressed the importance of the night, saying, "We just continue to make milestones for women. Women belong here. I think this is gonna be the first of many. Obviously, we have two here this year. But we could continue to see this — and all our games at NBA arenas." Her words underscore the growing acceptance and celebration of women’s basketball on some of the sport’s biggest stages.
The crowd at the United Center was enthusiastic, drawing 19,496 fans—surpassing Chicago’s previous WNBA attendance high of 16,444 set in 2016 at the Allstate Arena in suburban Rosemont. Despite the large crowd, tickets were surprisingly affordable, with some listed on StubHub for as little as $9 just hours before tipoff. This contrasts sharply with last season’s first game featuring Clark and Reese in Chicago, where courtside seats at Wintrust Arena were reportedly going for $5,000 an hour before tipoff, drawing celebrities like Chicago native Chance The Rapper, comedian Jason Sudeikis, New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, and Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Cheryl Swoopes.
Sky center Kamilla Cardoso, another young star, spoke to the broader significance of the event, saying, "It just shows how much women’s basketball is growing, and it’s amazing to see it." The growth of the sport is evident not only in attendance but in the increasing media attention and fan engagement.
Fever assistant coach Austin Kelly, filling in for head coach Stephanie White who was absent for personal reasons, shared a nostalgic connection to the United Center. Born in 1989, Kelly reminisced about watching the Chicago Bulls during the Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen dynasty, recalling how he and his AAU teammates would watch games from cramped hotel rooms. "I think they were everyone’s favorite team, especially youngsters like us growing up in the ’90s," he said, highlighting the deep basketball heritage of the venue now hosting WNBA games.
Coach Marsh also highlighted the emotional significance of the game for the Sky’s player-development coach Aaron Johnson, a Chicago native who grew up idolizing the United Center and attending games in the nosebleeds. "Since it got announced that we would be playing this game, it was something that he really got emotional about," Marsh said. "Not to put him on Front Street, but this is a building that he grew up idolizing and sitting in the nosebleeds, and going from that to being able to step on the floor, those are the types of moments that you can’t really put a price on." Marsh emphasized the excitement for players to be part of such a historic moment.
Looking ahead, the Sky and Fever are set to meet again at the United Center on July 27, 2025, promising another chapter in this burgeoning rivalry and continued growth for the WNBA in Chicago’s premier sports arena.
This game at the United Center was more than just a contest; it was a landmark moment for women’s basketball, symbolizing the sport’s rising stature and the breaking of new ground in venues traditionally reserved for men’s professional sports. Despite the lopsided scoreline, the event showcased the league’s progress and the passionate fanbase eager to support women’s basketball on the grandest stages.
