Fever secure narrow victory as Clark sets WNBA records in comeback win
Caitlin Clark’s career-high 45 points and 10 assists mark the first 40-point, 10-assist game in league history, ending a period of injury and controversy for the franchise.
The Indiana Fever secured a 110-107 victory over the Seattle Storm on Friday, a result that prevented the team from suffering a defeat against the league’s lowest-ranked side. The Storm currently hold the worst record in the WNBA at 6-21, yet the game proved far from straightforward for Indiana, who had to overcome a significant second-half deficit to claim the win.
Caitlin Clark delivered a historic performance, scoring a career-high 45 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including six of 10 from three-point range. She also recorded 10 assists, four steals, and four turnovers, becoming the first player in WNBA history to achieve at least 40 points and 10 assists in a single game. Her previous career high was 35 points.
Clark also accelerated her trajectory in league history by becoming the fastest player to reach 200 career three-pointers. She achieved the milestone in just 74 games, breaking the previous record of 81 games held by Katie Smith. The achievement occurred during the second quarter, marking a significant statistical milestone amidst a challenging season for the franchise.
Despite holding a 17-point lead in the second quarter, the Fever faced a difficult contest. A collapse before halftime and a defensive struggle in the third quarter left them trailing by eight points midway through the fourth. Clark responded by scoring 16 points in the final quarter, including the free throws that ultimately sealed the victory for Indiana.
The win follows a turbulent period for Clark and the Fever. Clark missed two games due to a lingering back injury and had struggled in her three-game return, averaging 11.3 points and shooting 35.1 per cent from the field. The team’s recent narrative has been dominated by off-court controversies, including a hard foul on Clark by Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas on June 24 that went unnoticed by officials but resulted in a suspension after intervention by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
The incident sparked a national conversation and prompted a letter from 11 House Republicans threatening a crackdown against the WNBA if Clark continues to be fouled. Prior to Friday’s game, Clark had also complained about missed calls by officials, citing a contusion in her quad sustained during a previous match.
