Caitlin Clark dribbled hard, stopped on a dime, pulled up, and drained her third triple of the third quarter. Following one 3-pointer, she swaggered backward across halfcourt.
During the Indiana Fever’s 85-83 victory over the Washington Mystics on Friday, Clark showcased the brilliance that captivated the nation in college by setting records and redefining fanhood. A smile creased her face, and she flailed her arms out after referees made calls she disagreed with.
At other times, she still looked like a rookie who leads the league in turnovers, adding eight more to her season tally of 67.
Clark tied her career best with 30 points (set on May 28 against the Los Angeles Sparks), dished out six assists, grabbed eight rebounds, and had four steals. She made 7 of 13 3-point attempts, tying a WNBA rookie record, and hit five consecutive shots from beyond the arc in the second half.
“I think it’s a process, more than anything,” Clark said after the game. “It felt good to shoot the ball well. I feel like even my misses were right there.”
Clark’s first second-half triple tied the game at 57 with 3:55 left in the third quarter. Her final one extended Indiana’s lead to 75-68 with less than eight minutes remaining. The Fever withstood a final-minute charge from the Mystics to secure their second win in three games.
Earlier, Clark discussed the “learning curve” she experienced over her first 11 professional games. On Sunday, she scored a season-low three points against the New York Liberty. Four days later, she delivered arguably the best game of her young WNBA career. During the break, Clark said the Fever had time to work on set plays and practice against ball-screen blitzes that had troubled them this season.
Against the Mystics, Clark said she found enough room to create off those screens.
“As a shooter, once you see one or two go in, the basket looks bigger and bigger,” she said. “That’s kind of what I was feeling.”
Indiana head coach Christie Sides stated that intentionally increasing Clark’s involvement off screens was a strategic move aimed at reducing her workload.
“She started feeling it late, which is always a good thing,” Sides said.
On the defensive end, Clark wrestled the ball away for a steal under the Washington basket, fueling a transition bucket in the first half. She extended her right arm for another steal on the next possession. By halftime, she had four assists and three steals.
Of course, playing against the league’s worst team – Washington is winless in 11 tries this season – helped Clark feel more comfortable on the pro hardwood.
Clark said pregame that she feels her passing has been up to her standard, even as she and her Fever teammates are still finding their chemistry. She is also pleased with her rebounding numbers given her size.
The two-time NCAA Player of the Year entered Friday averaging 15.6 points, 6.4 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals – and a league-high 5.4 turnovers per game.
“Once the game slows down for me a little bit, the turnovers will go down,” Clark said.
Clark showcased her ball-handling skills with a nifty one-handed drive and scoop for two points in the first quarter. On the next Fever possession, she displayed her court vision in a give-and-go with second-year forward and 2023 No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston.
Clark’s imperfections in her performance during the initial six weeks of her professional journey remained evident on Friday. During the first quarter, she lost possession to fellow rookie Julie Vanloo in the backcourt, leading to Vanloo sinking a transition 3-pointer before Clark could regain her defensive stance.
Clark responded with a step-back 3-pointer from near the Mystics’ logo.
With the Fever off to a 3-9 start, the importance of experience in the WNBA is becoming clear to Clark.
“If you’re selected as the No. 1 pick, chances are you’re joining a team that didn’t perform exceptionally well the previous season. It can present challenges,” Clark remarked regarding the early-season losses. “However, one of the most encouraging aspects throughout the initial 11 games is the energy within this group. It mirrors the enthusiasm we had during our first game.”
Along with Boston (10 points, six rebounds, three assists), the Fever have a foundation for the future that Sides believes in.
“We need to just keep laying brick-by-brick and stay the course,” Sides said. “That can be hard to do with the outside expectations. But Aliyah and Caitlin have wonderful futures ahead of them. It’s just going to get better.”
Over the past week, Clark has been more prominent in the media than usual. The hard foul she took from the Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter, which the league upgraded to a flagrant foul, has endured multiple news cycles. The 22-year-old addressed the controversy twice before Friday’s game and said she didn’t think an apology from Carter, who was targeted with harassment upon the Sky’s arrival in D.C. on Wednesday, was necessary.
Clark said she was well aware of the physical challenges awaiting her in the WNBA.
“Maybe some people didn’t know the circumstances,” she said.
“You’re starting a new chapter and new part of your career, becoming a professional athlete. It’s not going to click overnight. That’s not what this is.”
Clark was removed from the Fever’s loss to the New York Liberty on Sunday with ear pain. Asked about the explanation she received, Clark didn’t want to divulge the full reason.
“Honestly, I don’t really know,” Clark said. “I don’t want to explain it; that would be pretty gross.”
Clark said she can’t hear too well currently out of one ear but is confident her full hearing abilities will return soon.