Caitlin Clark’s attempt to secure a victory in Minnesota fell short on Saturday, as the Minnesota Lynx defeated the Indiana Fever 90-80, marking the Lynx’s sixth consecutive win.
This game marked Clark’s return following her achievement of breaking the WNBA record for most assists in a rookie season. She put forth a strong performance, scoring 23 points, her 13th game this season with at least 20 points. However, the Lynx showcased their shooting skills, particularly from beyond the arc, making 11 three-pointers, six of which were made in the first quarter.
This matchup marked the first loss for Clark in Minnesota since the start of her college career. While playing for Iowa, she won both the 2023 and 2024 Big Ten tournament titles at Target Center, maintaining an impressive 6-0 record in the venue. With three additional games against Minnesota during her college career, she previously held a 9-0 record in the state. Although she continued her streak with a victory against the Lynx on July 14, that winning run ended on Saturday.
The first quarter was a struggle for both Clark and the Fever, who went 0-for-7 from three-point range early on, with Clark managing just 1-for-8 from the floor. Meanwhile, Minnesota capitalized on their shooting, sinking six three-pointers to establish a 13-point lead.
The Fever came alive in the second quarter, demonstrating a marked improvement as they ended the half on a 21-9 scoring spree, highlighted by a last-second three-pointer from Clark that narrowed the gap to just one point at halftime.
Minnesota regained control in the third quarter, quickly extending their lead back into double digits with a strong start, scoring on their first five possessions and launching a 16-5 run.
Indiana made efforts to close the gap throughout the game and reduced the deficit to as little as three points. However, Minnesota responded with another scoring run, expanding the lead to as much as 15 points and effectively quashing any comeback attempts. The Lynx maintained the lead for all but the opening minute and a half of the game.
Napheesa Collier of Minnesota emerged as the leading scorer for the night, finishing with 31 points.
In terms of her performance, Clark concluded the game with 23 points, shooting 8-for-18 overall, including 3-for-8 from three-point range. She also contributed eight assists, five rebounds, one steal, and had seven turnovers. Her most productive quarter came in the second, during which she scored nine points, successfully making four out of her five attempts.
Indiana’s next matchup will be on the road against the Atlanta Dream on Monday night.