Guard Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever had an incredible day on Sunday, breaking the rookie assist record in the WNBA and leading her team to a commanding 92–75 victory over the Seattle Storm. But it also caused a brief period of annoyance. Clark became irritated after a Storm turnover with roughly seven minutes remaining in the third quarter and the game’s outcome very much in doubt (the Fever’s lead was just 43–39). She immediately received her fifth technical penalty of the season after punching the base of a basket. With a look of obvious uncertainty on her face, Clark raised her hands in the air and made a pointless plea to the game authorities.
For Clark, the infraction was merely a blemish on an incredible afternoon. She scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds, and disheveled nine assists. With a 13–15 record, Indiana now sits third in the Eastern Conference, behind the Connecticut Sun and New York Liberty.
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Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark Seem Like a WNBA Threat
If Lexie Hull makes some outside shots, the Indiana Fever might win the entire game. Hull helped the Fever overcome one of the best teams in the league by making six of seven shots from deep in the team’s victory over the Seattle Storm.
That clip is obviously unsustainable, but one thing Indiana has been lacking all season is reliable 3-and-D production from the wing. Throughout the year, Hull has shown hustle in her on-court outings, but the shooting had been a problem. Since the remainder of the foundation is already in place, if she has discovered her stroke, that would close the largest gap for the Fever.
Even though Caitlin Clark struggled with her own deep ball early in the game, she was still incredibly talented against the Storm. In addition to breaking the record for rookie assists in the game and showcasing her amazing court vision, Clark also appeared much more at ease operating in the midrange and getting the ball to the basket. which scares the heck out of any potential opponents. Clark ended with nine assists, five rebounds, and twenty-three points.
Naturally, Caitlin is not the team’s lone All-Star. Following the Olympic break, Kelsey Mitchell has been playing exceptionally well, putting up 55 points since the game resumed to form what may be the most explosive backcourt in the Western Conference. As Aliyah Boston is still a reliable player in almost every category. Boston’s two-person game with Clark is extremely difficult to handle since both players make excellent basketball selections. Boston finished the game with nine points, fifteen rebounds, and eight assists versus Seattle.
Since the season started, Indiana has defeated two winning teams and done so with convincing results.
Although the defense has improved and the Fever are still a clear offensive powerhouse, they still have significant shortcomings, particularly in the way they play offensively when Clark isn’t playing.
The team’s objective of just making it to the postseason is beginning to sound like a very conservative one, so there’s no way that any other WNBA team will want to see them in a playoff game.
