In a highly anticipated showdown, college rivals Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will meet for the first time in the WNBA as they kick off the 2024 Commissioner's Cup presented by Coinbase. This exciting matchup comes after memorable face-offs between the two athletes in the 2023 national championship game and the 2024 NCAA Final Four.

The Commissioner's Cup, now in its fourth year, introduces a new format for the 2024 season. All 30 regular-season games played from June 1-13 will be designated as Commissioner's Cup Games. Each team will play five games, one against each of its in-conference rivals, with the results counting towards both the Commissioner's Cup and regular-season standings.

The top teams from each conference will have the opportunity to compete for a $500,000 prize pool in the Commissioner's Cup Championship presented by Coinbase, scheduled for June 25.

In addition to the Clark-Reese matchup, there have been several standout storylines in the first two-plus weeks of the 2024 WNBA season. A'ja Wilson, the reigning Finals MVP, has started the season with an impressive streak of five consecutive 20/10 games, which is the longest such streak in WNBA history. Phoenix's Kahleah Copper and Dallas' Arike Ogunbowale have also made their mark by becoming two of only four players in league history to score 140+ points in the first five games of a season.

The Las Vegas Aces are aiming to achieve a rare three-peat, following in the footsteps of the 1997-2000 Houston Comets as the only team to win three straight titles. Meanwhile, the Liberty, last year's runner-up, have started the season strong with a 6-2 record as they aim to return to the Finals and secure their first championship.

The Seattle Storm, who had a challenging season last year, have revamped their roster by adding 2016 MVP Nneka Ogwumike and six-time All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith to join reigning scoring champion Jewell Loyd. The trio has propelled the Storm to a promising 5-3 start.

Looking ahead, the WNBA is set to expand as the Golden State Valkyries are expected to join the league in 2025. Additionally, Toronto has been awarded the league's 14th team, which is set to begin playing in 2026.

Fans and basketball enthusiasts alike eagerly await the clash between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, as they hope to see their favorite college rivals elevate their game to new heights in their first WNBA encounter. The Commissioner's Cup opener promises to be a thrilling start to the in-season competition, setting the stage for an action-packed and memorable 2024 WNBA season.