WNBA Sends Clear Message About Caitlin Clark's Impactful Fever Return
WNBA Sends Clear Message About Caitlin Clark's Impactful Fever Return originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
After missing five games with a quad injury, Caitlin Clark came back Saturday with a standout performance that reminded everyone why she's the most talked-about player in basketball. The 23-year-old scored 32 points, grabbed eight rebounds and handed out nine assists in the Fever's 102-88 win over the New York Liberty.
Advertisement
Her return wasn't just a boost for Indiana; it became one of the biggest events of the WNBA season so far. The game averaged 2.2 million viewers and peaked at 2.8 million, making it the third most-watched game on ABC.
ESPN also revealed that its WNBA coverage is up 14% from last season and up 76% on ABC.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22).Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The WNBA responded loud and clear, posting a message.
"All Eyes on the W," the WNBA wrote.
This is just one of the Fever's games this season to draw tons of attention with Clark in the lineup. On opening day against the Chicago Sky, ESPN's coverage on ABC had an average of 2.7 million viewers, peaking at 3.1 million.
Advertisement
Clark was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2024 WNBA draft after playing four seasons at Iowa.
In her first season, she broke the WNBA's rookie record for points (769) and assists (337). This year, she is already averaging 21.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game as she looks to smash her Year 1 averages of 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game.
Clark and the Fever will return to the court on Tuesday night as they host the Connecticut Sun. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV.
Related: Caitlin Clark's Impact on the WNBA is Clear After New Update
Related: Caitlin Clark's Boyfriend Directs Five-Word Question to Nike
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Clark scores 20 and the Fever beat the Sun to secure Commissioner's Cup spot
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives on Connecticut Sun guard Saniya Rivers (22) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark had 20 points, six assists and four 3-pointers and the Indiana Fever beat the Connecticut Sun 88-71 on Tuesday night in a physical game that included three late ejections. With 46.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Connecticut guard Jacy Sheldon made a steal and raced the other way before being wrapped up by Sophie Cunningham under the basket for a hard foul. Sheldon got up quicky and got into a shoving match with Cunningham, leading to Cunningham, Sheldon and Lindsay Allen all getting ejected. Advertisement Sheldon was also the center of another official review in the third quarter after she poked Clark in the eye and then Marina Mabrey came in late to shove Clark to the floor. Three technical fouls were called, leading to Clark's three free throws for a 58-45 lead. The Indiana win, combined with an Atlanta loss to New York, secured the Fever's spot in the Commissioner's Cup with a 4-1 record. The Fever held the tiebreaker with the Liberty after a 102-88 win on Saturday. LIBERTY 86, DREAM 81 NEW YORK (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu had her second consecutive 34-point game, and New York rallied from a 17-point deficit in the second half to edge Atlanta. Advertisement The Liberty trailed 62-47 midway through the third quarter before taking over behind Ionescu's 15 points and Breanna Stewart's 11. Stewart finished with 23 points. The game marked the end of the Commissioner's Cup games. Both teams entered with 3-1 records, tied with Indiana. Atlanta would have advanced to the final with a win but Indiana, which beat Connecticut 88-71, had the tiebreaker over the Liberty thanks to the Fever handing New York its first loss of the season on Saturday. Jonquel Jones had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Liberty (10-1). Rookie Te-Hina Paopao led the Dream (8-4) with 16 points, all in the first half. Allisha Gray added 14 points and Brionna Jones and Rhyne Howard both had 13. Advertisement MYSTICS 79, SKY 72 CHICAGO (AP) — Brittney Sykes scored 32 points on 13-of-24 shooting and Washington overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to beat Chicago. The Mystics trailed 44-32 at halftime before doubling up Chicago in the third quarter, 24-12, to tie it at 56-all entering the fourth. Sykes converted a three-point play with 2:17 left for a 74-70 lead. Sykes also grabbed a key offensive rebound with 37 seconds left, with Washington ahead 75-72. She brought it out past the 3-point arc to reset and then dribbled into the lane for a jumper that came up short, but Kiki Iriafen grabbed the offensive rebound and scored for a five-point lead. Advertisement Washington forward Shakira Austin blocked Kamilla Cardoso's shot at the other end and Sonia Citron grabbed the defensive rebound and made two free throws to seal it. Citron finished with 13 points and nine rebounds for Washington (5-7). WINGS 80, VALKYRIES 71 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Paige Bueckers scored 20 points, Arike Ogunbowale added 19 points, six assists and three steals, and Dallas won their first home game of the season, over Golden State. Dallas (2-11) snapped a seven-game losing streak with its first victory since beating Connecticut 109-87 on May 27. Bueckers sank a jumper from the free-throw line with 4:06 left in the fourth quarter and Ogunbowale nailed a long 3-pointer on their next possession for a 75-70 lead. Advertisement Ogunbowale also tipped away a pass and raced the other way for a fast-break layup to cap the scoring with 14.8 seconds left. Kaila Charles added 10 points and three steals for Dallas. LYNX 76, ACES 62 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Courtney Williams scored 18 of her 20 points in the second half to rally Minnesota to a spot in the Commissioner's Cup final with a win over Las Vegas espite losing Napheesa Collier to a bad back early in the third quarter. The Lynx, who won the Commissioner's Cup, last year, will be home against the Indiana Fever on July 1 in a game that does not count in the standings but gives players a financial bonus. Advertisement Despite being without MVP A'ja Wilson for the third-straight game the Aces led by as many as 14 points and were up 39-30 at halftime. It was the lowest scoring half of the season for Minnesota. Collier, runner-up in the MVP voting last year, scored her seventh point early in the second half but left at the 7:57 mark and didn't return. Alanna Smith helped pick up the slack with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Reserves Diamond Miller and Natisha Hiedeman gave the Lynx (11-1) a big boost with 12 points each. Williams had five assists, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Washington Post
40 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Clark scores 20 and the Fever beat the Sun to secure Commissioner's Cup spot
INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark had 20 points, six assists and four 3-pointers and the Indiana Fever beat the Connecticut Sun 88-71 on Tuesday night in a physical game that included three late ejections. With 46.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Connecticut guard Jacy Sheldon made a steal and raced the other way before being wrapped up by Sophie Cunningham under the basket for a hard foul. Sheldon got up quicky and got into a shoving match with Cunningham, leading to Cunningham, Sheldon and Lindsay Allen all getting ejected. Sheldon was also the center of another official review in the third quarter after she poked Clark in the eye and then Marina Mabrey came in late to shove Clark to the floor. Three technical fouls were called, leading to Clark's three free throws for a 58-45 lead. The Indiana win, combined with an Atlanta loss to New York, secured the Fever's spot in the Commissioner's Cup with a 4-1 record. The Fever held the tiebreaker with the Liberty after a 102-88 win on Saturday. LIBERTY 86, DREAM 81 NEW YORK — Sabrina Ionescu had her second consecutive 34-point game, and New York rallied from a 17-point deficit in the second half to edge Atlanta. The Liberty trailed 62-47 midway through the third quarter before taking over behind Ionescu's 15 points and Breanna Stewart's 11. Stewart finished with 23 points. The game marked the end of the Commissioner's Cup games. Both teams entered with 3-1 records, tied with Indiana. Atlanta would have advanced to the final with a win but Indiana, which beat Connecticut 88-71, had the tiebreaker over the Liberty thanks to the Fever handing New York its first loss of the season on Saturday. Jonquel Jones had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Liberty (10-1). Rookie Te-Hina Paopao led the Dream (8-4) with 16 points, all in the first half. Allisha Gray added 14 points and Brionna Jones and Rhyne Howard both had 13. MYSTICS 79, SKY 72 CHICAGO — Brittney Sykes scored 32 points on 13-of-24 shooting and Washington overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to beat Chicago. The Mystics trailed 44-32 at halftime before doubling up Chicago in the third quarter, 24-12, to tie it at 56-all entering the fourth. Sykes converted a three-point play with 2:17 left for a 74-70 lead. Sykes also grabbed a key offensive rebound with 37 seconds left, with Washington ahead 75-72. She brought it out past the 3-point arc to reset and then dribbled into the lane for a jumper that came up short, but Kiki Iriafen grabbed the offensive rebound and scored for a five-point lead . Washington forward Shakira Austin blocked Kamilla Cardoso's shot at the other end and Sonia Citron grabbed the defensive rebound and made two free throws to seal it. Citron finished with 13 points and nine rebounds for Washington (5-7). WINGS 80, VALKYRIES 71 ARLINGTON, Texas — Paige Bueckers scored 20 points, Arike Ogunbowale added 19 points, six assists and three steals, and Dallas won their first home game of the season, over Golden State. Dallas (2-11) snapped a seven-game losing streak with its first victory since beating Connecticut 109-87 on May 27. Bueckers sank a jumper from the free-throw line with 4:06 left in the fourth quarter and Ogunbowale nailed a long 3-pointer on their next possession for a 75-70 lead. Ogunbowale also tipped away a pass and raced the other way for a fast-break layup to cap the scoring with 14.8 seconds left. Kaila Charles added 10 points and three steals for Dallas. LYNX 76, ACES 62 MINNEAPOLIS — Courtney Williams scored 18 of her 20 points in the second half to rally Minnesota to a spot in the Commissioner's Cup final with a win over Las Vegas espite losing Napheesa Collier to a bad back early in the third quarter. The Lynx, who won the Commissioner's Cup, last year, will be home against the Indiana Fever on July 1 in a game that does not count in the standings but gives players a financial bonus. Despite being without MVP A'ja Wilson for the third-straight game the Aces led by as many as 14 points and were up 39-30 at halftime. It was the lowest scoring half of the season for Minnesota. Collier, runner-up in the MVP voting last year, scored her seventh point early in the second half but left at the 7:57 mark and didn't return. Alanna Smith helped pick up the slack with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Reserves Diamond Miller and Natisha Hiedeman gave the Lynx (11-1) a big boost with 12 points each. Williams had five assists, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Sky blow 12-point halftime lead, lose to Washington Mystics
Brittney Sykes scored 32 points on 13-of-24 shooting and the Washington Mystics overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to beat the Chicago Sky 79-72 on Tuesday night. The Mystics trailed 44-32 at halftime before doubling up Chicago in the third quarter, 24-12, to tie it at 56-all entering the fourth. Sykes converted a three-point play with 2:17 left for a 74-70 lead. Sykes also grabbed a key offensive rebound with 37 seconds left, with Washington ahead 75-72. She brought it out past the 3-point arc to reset and then dribbled into the lane for a jumper that came up short, but Kiki Iriafen grabbed the offensive rebound and scored for a five-point lead. Washington forward Shakira Austin blocked Kamilla Cardoso's shot at the other end and Sonia Citron grabbed the defensive rebound and made two free throws to seal it. Citron finished with 13 points and nine rebounds for Washington (5-7). Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso each had a double-double for Chicago (3-8). Cardoso had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Reese added 17 points, 10 boards and five assists. Ariel Atkins finished with 10 points.
