Fever’s Caitlin Clark Talks Clutch 3 to Earn 1st WNBA Win vs. Sparks: ‘I Was Due’
Adam WellsMay 25, 2024
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Caitlin Clark didn’t have her best game on Friday night, but she stepped up in a crucial moment with a clutch three late in the fourth quarter to help the Indiana Fever earn a 78-73 win over the Los Angeles Sparks for their first victory of the season.
Speaking to reporters following the game, Clark explained she “was due” after making two big shots in the win.
“To be honest, I went to the bench after I was like, ‘I was due, they had to go in,'” Clark said. “I had missed so many throughout the game. It was time for them to go in.”
Clark had a rough scoring night overall, finishing with 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting from the field. All six of her second-half points came in the span of two minutes late in the fourth quarter on two three-pointers.
The first three extended Indiana’s lead to 72-66 with 2:27 remaining. Los Angeles scored four straight points to the cut the deficit to two when Clark connected from 28 feet to get the lead back to five at 76-71 with 40 seconds left to play.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReportCAITLIN CLARK WITH THE DAGGER đ„đ„đ„
(via @WNBA)pic.twitter.com/UkJcQYDVDa
Clark made a nice defensive play on the Sparks’ ensuing possession when she blocked Kia Nurse’s three-point attempt.
Even though Clark’s shot wasn’t falling until the end of the game, she had one of her best all-around performances this season. The rookie sensation set career-highs in rebounds (10), steals (four) and tied her career-high in assists (eight).
After losing their first two games of the season by a combined 57 points, the Fever started to figure things out with a competitive 91-80 loss to the New York Liberty on May 18. They lost their next two games by a combined six points.
Friday saw the Fever put it all together to earn their first win with Clark. They outscored the Sparks 44-28 in the second half. Kelsey Mitchell led the charge with 15 points after intermission.
Things won’t get easier for the Fever, who wrap up their three-game Western Conference road trip on Saturday against the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.
