Caitlin Clark scored eight points and provided eight assists, but the Indiana Fever lost their final regular-season game 92-91 to Washington.
A record crowd of 20,711 fans filled Washington’s Capital One Arena for the match, although the game had little bearing on the standings as Indiana had already secured the sixth seed for the playoffs. The Fever will face third-seeded Connecticut in the first round, with the series set as a best of three. The initial two games will take place in Connecticut, while if a Game 3 is required, Indiana will host it.
Clark played under 20 minutes in the game, which Fever coach Christie Sides had anticipated in a pregame statement, emphasizing caution with the starters. Clark shot 2-of-5 from the field, with both successful shots being three-pointers. Additionally, she recorded five rebounds and one steal.
In her rookie season, Clark concluded the regular season averaging 19.2 points, the highest in the league with 8.4 assists, and also 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Although she led the league in turnovers with 5.6 per game, this is typical for guards handling the ball extensively. Clark has set multiple records during her first year and is favored to win the Rookie of the Year award next week when the league’s honors are announced.
The Fever experienced a tense moment when guard Kelsey Mitchell, who performed exceptionally well post-Olympics, severely twisted her left ankle early in the game. Mitchell was slow to recover on defense and quickly went to the locker room after being substituted. She did not start in the second half; however, she participated in warm-ups after the intermission, suggesting her limited playtime—under five minutes—was a precautionary measure.
Kristy Wallace led the Fever with 17 points, while NaLyssa Smith added 16 points. For Washington, Sika Kone scored 20 points.