In the hours leading up to the final showdown between rookies Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark this season, Wintrust Arena in Chicago was set up for the WNBA’s first-ever Barbie theme night.
Pink towels were draped across the backs of the seats.
Reese, with “Barbie” a big part of her nickname, would be in the starting lineup.
A schedule of giveaways and events — from a pregame panel on women in leadership and women’s sports to the first 2,000 fans receiving either a Barbie-themed sherpa belt bag or Hawaiian shirt — dotted the Sky’s itinerary for the evening, with the night honoring Barbie’s 65th year since getting introduced and promoting women empowerment.
against the Fever. Screengrab via X/@chicagosky
And all of that served as the backdrop to Clark, Reese, their ongoing Rookie of the Year race and the final meeting this season between the Fever and Sky.
Reese’s nickname in college was the “Bayou Barbie,” and she said in a TikTok after getting picked No. 7 overall by Chicago in the WNBA draft that “Chi Barbie” could become her new nickname.
“The Chicago Sky are thrilled to be the first WNBA team to partner with Barbie, the world’s most iconic and diverse doll brand that reminds girls they can be anything,” Sky chief marketing officer Tania Haladner said in the team’s release.
“Barbie aligns perfectly with the Sky’s mission to empower girls and women to explore limitless possibilities, and we can’t wait to bring inspiring content to fans.”
It was the WNBA’s first-ever Barbie theme for a game, according to the Sky.
Ever since the Sky selected her after completing her collegiate career at LSU, Reese has become one of the focal points of Chicago’s lineup as the Sky — which held a one-game advantage for the WNBA’s final playoff spot entering Friday’s action — makes a push to return to the postseason for a sixth consecutive season.
Reese, at one point, set a league record with 15 straight double-doubles, and she has averaged 13.3 points and a WNBA-high 12.9 rebounds per game in her debut season.
The Fever won their first two matchups with the Sky earlier this season, but Chicago escaped with a one-point victory on June 23.
