Caitlin Clark made a remarkable return to the court after a five-game injury absence, leading the Indiana Fever to a striking 102-88 victory over the New York Liberty, marking the defending WNBA champions’ first loss of the season. In the game held on Saturday, Clark showcased her prowess by scoring 32 points, tying her career high with seven 3-pointers, while also contributing nine assists and eight rebounds.
This victory was significant for the Fever, who set a franchise record with 17 three-pointers in 35 attempts, achieving a shooting percentage of 48.6% from beyond the arc. Clark, who was the WNBA Rookie of the Year last season, had been out of action due to a quadriceps injury but came back strong, leading her team to improve their record to 5-5.
Kelsey Mitchell further supported the team’s performance with 22 points, while Lexie Hull and Aliyah Boston added 14 and 10 points, respectively, with Boston also grabbing 11 rebounds. This was the first time this season the Fever scored over 100 points.
On the opposing side, Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty with a season-high 34 points, and Breanna Stewart contributed 24 points. Despite initially holding a 17-6 lead, the Liberty struggled to maintain momentum as Indiana surged back, closing the game with a decisive 14-2 run.
This win not only indicates a potential turnaround for the Fever after a patchy start, but it also underscores the excitement and competitiveness in the WNBA this season, particularly with standout performances from Clark that could energize the Fever’s playoff aspirations moving forward.