“That was an incredible display by our star player during the game,” said Coach [Coach’s Name]. “Their performance was nothing short of spectacular, showcasing not only their skill and talent but also their determination and leadership on the court. They carried the team with their impressive scoring, sharp defense, and smart playmaking. It was a complete game from start to finish, and we couldn’t be prouder of how they stepped up when it mattered most. This is the kind of performance that inspires the entire team and sets the tone for what we can achieve moving forward.”
The Indiana Fever’s rough start to the season continued on Tuesday with an 88-82 defeat to the visiting Los Angeles Sparks. They are now 1-7, their worst start since 2021, and sit in 11th place. However, there was a silver lining: a historic performance from Caitlin Clark.
Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, recorded her first career 30-point game, finishing with 30 points, five rebounds, six assists, three steals, and three blocks, shooting 7-of-16 from the field and 13-of-15 from the line. Though she struggled with seven turnovers, the outing represented a significant milestone for Clark.
A minute into the game, Clark broke free off a screen and buried a 3-pointer after a feed from Kristy Wallace, marking the start of her best scoring effort of her young professional career. She shot better than in recent games, with a mix of uncontested layups, tough finishes over defenders, and three more triples. Clark is the first rookie to score 30 points in a game since Rhyne Howard in 2022.
Clark’s long-range shooting is notable, but her frequent trips to the free-throw line were crucial to her setting the Division I scoring record at Iowa. Averaging around seven free throws per game in her last three college seasons, she finished second in the country last season with 221 made free throws. In the WNBA, where points are harder to come by, Clark managed to force her way to the line 15 times against the Sparks, making 13 of those. She is only the second player to take at least 15 free throws in a game this season, alongside Kahleah Copper, and the first rookie to do so since Howard in 2022.
Clark did a bit of everything on Tuesday, joining some exclusive clubs:
She joined Jewell Loyd and A’ja Wilson as the only players with at least 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a game this season.
