Caitlin Clark faced defeat in Minnesota on Saturday night as the Minnesota Lynx triumphed over the Indiana Fever, winning 90-80 and marking their sixth consecutive victory.
In her first game since breaking the WNBA record for the most assists in a rookie season, Clark contributed 23 points, reaching 20 points or more for the 13th time this season. However, the Lynx showcased their shooting prowess from beyond the arc, hitting 11 three-pointers, six of which came in the first quarter.
This was the first loss for Clark in Minnesota since starting her college career, where she claimed victories in the 2023 and 2024 Big Ten tournaments with Iowa at the Target Center, maintaining a perfect 6-0 record in that venue. Including three road games against Minnesota during her college career, she had gone 9-0 in the state until Indiana’s win over the Lynx on July 14. However, that winning streak ended Saturday night.
The opening quarter was challenging for both Indiana and Clark, as the Fever struggled with a 0-for-7 record from three-point range, and Clark managed only one field goal on eight attempts. Meanwhile, the Lynx capitalized with six three-pointers, establishing a 13-point lead.
The Fever turned things around in the second quarter, finding their rhythm as Clark heated up. Indiana ended the half with a 21-9 run, highlighted by a last-second three-pointer from Clark, bringing the score to just a one-point deficit at halftime.
In the third quarter, Minnesota reestablished their lead, scoring on their first five possessions and starting the half with a 16-5 run to push their lead back into double digits.
Although Indiana fought hard and narrowed the gap to as few as three points, Minnesota responded with a run of their own, extending their lead to as much as 15 points to secure the victory. The Lynx maintained their lead for nearly the entire game.
Napheesa Collier of Minnesota led all scorers with 31 points.
Clark finished with stats including 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting, 3-of-8 from three-point range, along with eight assists, five rebounds, one steal, and seven turnovers. Her most productive quarter was the second, where she scored nine points.
The Fever will look to bounce back in their next game on Monday night against the Atlanta Dream.