Chicago Sky announce Angel Reese ‘Barbie night’ for next Caitlin Clark game with the two WNBA rivals facing off again next week
Chicago Sky has announced a new theme night for next week, with a nod to their ‘Bayou Barbie’ Angel Reese.
The rookie forward, who gave herself the nickname while playing for LSU, will face Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever for the fourth time this season on August 30.
In addition to the action on the field, the match is being promoted as ‘Barbie Night’, in partnership with Mattel.
In a message to X, Sky encouraged her fans to wear their “best Barbie pink.”
The team added one press release that there will be a pre-game panel discussion that evening, fan giveaways and special arena decorations.
Angel Reese, who was nicknamed the ‘Bayou Barbie’ during her studies, has been a hit with Sky fans this year
On August 30, she will face fellow rookie star Caitlin Clark in ‘Barbie Night’
Additionally, the first 2,000 fans entering the arena will receive a special Sherpa bag or a Barbie-themed Hawaiian shirt.
“Barbie is a perfect fit for Sky’s mission to empower girls and women to explore endless possibilities. We can’t wait to bring fans inspiring content,” said Tania Haladner, Sky’s Chief Marketing Officer in Chicago.
Because she was summoned by the Sky, Reese also called herself the ‘Chi Barbie’ as she tried to acclimate to her new surroundings.
“Some people reaching out to me, the Chicago love runs deep and it goes crazy,” she said on TikTok. “So I am the Chi Barbie, the Baltimore Barbie, and I will always be the Bayou Barbie.”
Reese and Clark, who were both named WNBA All-Stars earlier this season, have drawn a huge amount of attention to the league in their debut seasons.
Reese and Clark have faced each other three times this season, with Clark emerging victorious twice
Fanatics – the official retailer of the league – reported a 1000% increase in sales of player-specific merchandise TMZwith Clark and Reese taking first and second place respectively.
Additionally, WNBA games in July averaged 1.32 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and CBS, nearly triple the 462,200 viewers last season.
Reese and Clark have faced each other three times so far this season, with Clark’s Fever emerging victorious twice.
Notably, Reese cheered when her Sky teammate, Chennedy Carter, bodychecked Clark to the ground during a match on June 1.
However, Reese seemed to diffuse the tension when she joked that they could be friends “for one day” as All-Star teammates, and that they could work together more often in the future.