What began as a frightening evening transformed into a triumph for Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.
The talented rookie battled through an early injury as her team triumphed over the Atlanta Dream 84-79 on Monday night. Clark contributed 19 points to the victory.
Just seven minutes into the game, Clark appeared to roll her left ankle while navigating a screen. She collapsed to the floor, visibly in distress.
Despite holding her injured ankle, Clark managed to walk off the court under her own power with the assistance of the training staff. She received treatment on the bench during a timeout but did not leave for the locker room. As the first quarter concluded, she remained on the sideline, and the injury seemed minor as she returned for the start of the second quarter, scoring on Indiana’s first offensive play of that frame. After the match, Clark downplayed the injury, stating it was nothing serious and simply required taping.
“I saw the replay and I look really soft,” she humorously noted. “It wasn’t that bad.”
Aside from Clark’s injury scare, the night was a success for Indiana. The Fever surged ahead with an 8-0 run at the game’s onset and maintained the lead throughout. Aliyah Boston showcased her skill in the paint early on, while Kelsey Mitchell shone across the offensive board. Indiana extended its lead to as many as 18 points.
Although Atlanta was outside the playoff race, the team had performed strongly since the Olympic break, winning its first three August games before a loss to the Phoenix Mercury. However, the Dream struggled offensively, ranking last in the league in points per game (75.8) and field goal percentage (41%), shooting just 37% against Indiana. Despite making a late fourth-quarter push that narrowed the game to two points and holding a shot to tie in the final moments, they could not convert. Indiana remains undefeated against Atlanta this season, boasting a 3-0 record.
Mitchell led the scoring with 29 points, while Boston recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Caitlin Clark’s influence continues to resonate, as the Dream relocated their game to State Farm Arena, home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, rather than playing at their usual venue, Gateway Center Arena, which accommodates 5,000. This shift was prompted by the strong interest in Clark and her team, with attendance reaching 17,608 for the contest, marking not only the largest crowd for a Dream game but also the highest attendance for a WNBA game in Georgia’s history.
In terms of performance, Clark finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals, one block, and two turnovers, shooting 6-for-14 overall and 4-for-9 from three-point range. Her four three-pointers bring her total to 85 for the season, tying her with Dream guard Rhyne Howard for the most three-pointers by a rookie.
Clark is also making her mark on the WNBA’s rookie scoring list, with 539 points, ranking her 15th all-time. Seimone Augustus holds the record with 744 points scored during the 2006 season with the Minnesota Lynx.
With this win, the Fever has secured three victories in their last four games, improving their record to 14-16. Indiana is currently positioned as the No. 7 seed in the WNBA, potentially clinching their first postseason appearance in eight years. The Fever’s next matchup is scheduled for Wednesday night against the Connecticut Sun.