what Caitlin Clark makes in Fever’s shock victory over Liberty
Indianapolis (AP) — Caitlin Clark recorded the first triple-double by a rookie in WNBA history, leading Indiana to an 83-78 victory over New York on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, snapping the Fever’s nine-game losing run against the Liberty.
Clark tallied 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds for Indiana (9-13). The No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft was one rebound shy of a triple-double in an 88-82 away win over the Phoenix Mercury two nights ago.
“Obviously, it’s really cool,” Clark remarked. “My teammates are completing the ball at a very high rate. My assist numbers are due of them.”
Clark pleased Indiana coach Christie Sides, as did the Fever’s 12-point victory over the Liberty in the fourth quarter.
“Caitlin with a triple-double, my gosh, that’s incredible,” she exclaimed post-game. “We held New York to 16 points in the fourth quarter, which was big for us. That’s the best team in the league.”
Clark scored 11 points in the first quarter, going 3 of 4 from three-point range. She reached double figures in assists in the third quarter and surpassed the 10-rebound mark in the fourth.
Clark completed a three-point play, and Kelsey Mitchell followed with a three-pointer to tie the game at 75 with 2:31 remaining. Aliyah Boston scored off Mitchell’s steal, giving Indiana a two-point advantage, and Lexie Hull’s reverse layup extended the margin to 79-75 at 1:24.
Sabrina Ionescu of New York responded with a 3-pointer, but she missed the following time down the floor with a chance to put the Liberty up. Boston made two free throws with 17 seconds left, and Mitchell added two with 11 seconds left to complete the upset.
New York made just 10 of 42 shots from beyond the arc.
“We defended well the whole game,” Boston stated. “Those last few minutes, especially those last few possessions, were great for us.”
Boston led the Fever with 18 points (8-for-12 shooting) and eight rebounds. Mitchell scored 14 points, reaching double figures for the tenth consecutive game. NaLyssa Smith, the second overall choice in the 2022 draft, added 12 points and 11 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season.
Ionescu scored 22 points to lead New York (17-4), which had won five consecutive games. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton ended with 20 points, including four three-pointers. Breanna Stewart tallied 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Jonquel Jones recorded 12 rebounds, six points, and three steals.
Clark scored a three-pointer and then a layup to lead Indiana to an 8-0 run to start the game. She converted a steal into a 3-pointer with 3:04 remaining in the first, giving the Fever their largest lead of 24-12. Laney-Hamilton nailed a jumper with two seconds left, and New York scored the final six points to pull within six going into the second period.
Clark’s turnaround fadeaway jumper gave the Fever a 31-20 advantage with 7:48 remaining in the second quarter. Jones scored the final five baskets in a 12-0 run from there, giving the Liberty their first lead. Smith responded with a layup, breaking a 5:06 scoring drought and regaining Indiana’s advantage.
Stewart, who averaged 22.7 points in three previous victories over the Fever this season, hit two free throws in the last minute to pull New York within 39-38 at halftime.
Laney-Hamilton hit a go-ahead jumper, and Ionescu followed with a basket and a 3-pointer off a Stewart steal, giving New York a 57-50 lead with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter. Laney-Hamilton made a pull-up jumper with three seconds left, giving the Liberty a 62-55 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Clark observed that the Fever are learning not to wilt under pressure when things don’t go their way.
“I think the biggest difference has been when teams make runs, we don’t crumble,” Clark informed the audience. “We found a way to stay resilient and kind of close the gap.”
Sandy Brondello, New York’s coach, was dissatisfied with the Liberty’s approach at the start.
“I didn’t think we came out with the necessary urgency to compete,” Brondello told the crowd. “They’re 6-4 in their last ten games. “They outperformed us down the stretch.”
Indiana beat New York for the first time since May 13, 2022, when they won 92-86 on the road. The Fever lead the all-time series 50-41.
