Caitlin Clark continued her impressive performance in the new WNBA season on Tuesday, making headlines as she led the Indiana Fever, but ultimately fell short in a tight contest against the Atlanta Dream, resulting in a 91-90 defeat. This match marks the Fever’s first loss of the 2025 season.
The game witnessed an intense finish, with Rhyne Howard of the Dream sinking a critical free throw with just 9.1 seconds left, sealing Atlanta’s victory. Despite trailing 76-65 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Fever demonstrated remarkable resilience, orchestrating a comeback that included two long-range three-pointers from Clark. Aaliyah Boston, who had an outstanding performance with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks, gave the Fever a brief 90-89 lead with a free throw in the dying seconds of the game.
However, the Dream regained the upper hand through Howard, while Indiana’s Natasha Howard missed two opportunities to secure a win, with one shot blocked and another hitting the rim. Clark was the standout player with a game-high 27 points, complemented by five rebounds, 11 assists, and two steals. In achieving this feat, she set a new record for the most 25-point, 10-assist games in WNBA history, breaking the previous record held by three-time All-Star Sabrina Ionescu.
Despite the loss, Clark remained optimistic about the Fever’s future. She acknowledged the disappointment but highlighted the potential for growth from this experience. “A little adversity – how are we going to respond? We can get a little redemption,” she stated.
On the other hand, Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell, who contributed 24 points, and coach Mitchell pointed out areas needing improvement, emphasizing discipline and performance consistency throughout the game. The Fever need to address their performance lapses to succeed moving forward.
The two teams are set to face off again on Thursday at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena, providing Indiana a chance to bounce back and demonstrate their growth from this hard-fought contest.