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Caitlin Clark's impressive performance leads Fever to victory against winless Mystics
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    Caitlin Clark’s impressive performance leads Fever to victory against winless Mystics

    WASHINGTON — Caitlin Clark put on a show in front of one of the largest crowds in WNBA history.

    Clark made seven 3-pointers, equalled a career high with 30 points and converted enough of her free throws down the stretch to help the Indiana Fever hold on for an 85-83 victory over the winless Washington Mystics on Friday night.

    “It felt good to shoot the ball well,” Clark said. “I feel like even my misses were right there.”

    With fan interest in Clark still surging, the Mystics hosted this game at Capital One Arena instead of the smaller venue where they usually play at home. It was a sellout of 20,333 — the league’s largest attendance for a game since 2007, according to acrossthetimeline.com.

    “I think we’re part of history, so I’ll take it,” Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell said. “We embrace it. I’m pretty sure our organization can feed off of it, the state of Indiana.”

    Clark said before the game she had no grudge against Chennedy Carter, the Chicago Sky player who flagrantly fouled her last weekend. Then she produced the type of performance that will help put the focus back on basketball and what she can do on the court.

    Clark easily had the most 3-pointers of her young career and made three of her four free throw attempts late. She missed the last one, and the ball was knocked out of bounds as the Mystics (0-11) tried to rush up the court. That gave Washington one last chance with 1.4 seconds left, but the Mystics couldn’t get a shot off in time.

    Clark had eight rebounds and six assists in perhaps her best all-around game so far. She went 8 of 15 from the field with four steals, although turnovers (eight) were an issue again for the former Iowa star.

    Indiana (3-9) was coming off a four-day layoff after a grueling start to the season that included 11 games in 20 days.

    “All of us would say that’s just not ideal,” Clark said. “It’s not an ideal way to play basketball. I think you could see the exhaustion on our faces — more mentally than probably physically.”

    This time it was Washington that was put to the test, playing the second night of a back-to-back.

    Indiana led 82-80 when Aliyah Boston missed two free throws with 25.6 seconds remaining, giving Washington a chance to tie. Ariel Atkins missed a driving attempt, however, and the ball went out of bounds. The Mystics then had to foul, and Clark made two free throws for a four-point lead.

    Karlie Samuelson answered with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to one.

    Clark has had one other 30-point game in the WNBA, in a loss to Los Angeles on May 28. She hadn’t made more than four 3s in a game and had shot over 50 per cent from the field only once.

    Stefanie Dolson scored 19 points for Washington, but the Mystics missed a big chance when Indiana’s NaLyssa Smith was called for a clear-path foul with 1:37 to play. Down by three, Washington rookie Aaliyah Edwards made only one of two free throws, and the Mystics didn’t score on the ensuing possession.

    Washington lost back-to-back games against top rookies — Angel Reese and Chicago beat the Mystics on Thursday in a game that was also played at Capital One Arena.

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    In a thrilling matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics, rookie sensation Caitlin Clark stole the show with an impressive performance that led her team to a victory over the winless Mystics.

    Clark, who was drafted second overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft, has been making waves in her debut season with the Fever. The former Iowa Hawkeye standout has quickly established herself as one of the league’s top young talents, and her performance against the Mystics only solidified that reputation.

    In the game against the Mystics, Clark showcased her scoring prowess by pouring in a game-high 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field. She also dished out 8 assists and grabbed 6 rebounds, demonstrating her versatility and playmaking ability on both ends of the court.

    But it wasn’t just Clark’s individual performance that stood out in the game. The Fever as a team played with energy and intensity, executing their game plan to perfection and stifling the Mystics on defense. They held the Mystics to just 38% shooting from the field and forced 15 turnovers, capitalizing on their mistakes to secure the win.

    The victory was a much-needed one for the Fever, who have been struggling in the early part of the season. With the win, they improve their record to 3-5 and gain some momentum as they look to climb up the standings in the competitive Eastern Conference.

    As for Clark, her stellar performance against the Mystics only adds to her growing legend in the WNBA. At just 21 years old, she has already shown that she has the talent and potential to be a future star in the league. With her combination of scoring ability, playmaking skills, and basketball IQ, there’s no telling how far she can go in her career.

    Overall, Caitlin Clark’s impressive performance against the Mystics was a statement game that showcased her talent and potential as a rising star in the WNBA. Fans of the Fever have plenty to be excited about as they watch her continue to grow and develop into a dominant force in the league.