Caitlin Clark spectacular in return from injury as Fever hand Liberty first loss

The Guardian

12 hours ago

Caitlin Clark totaled 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in a spectacular return from a left quad injury on Saturday leading the Indiana Fever to a 102-88 victory over the New York Liberty, snapping their season-opening nine-game winning streak.
After missing five games, Clark scored 25 points in the first half to help Indiana (5-5) rally from an early 11-point deficit. Clark made 11-of-20 shots and tied a career high by hitting seven threees, including several from well beyond the arc.
Clark finished with the second-most points in her career and three shy of her career-high (35) set on 15 September against the Dallas Wings. Clark scored 14 in the first quarter, including three 3s in the final 86 seconds after the Fever trailed by 11.
Clark helped the Fever surge ahead in the third by hitting a layup, her final three and two free throws for a 72-59 lead with 3:43 left.
The performance drew praise from basketball royalty with LeBron James tweeting shortly after the final buzzer: 'The CC EFFECT!! WELCOME BACK! You were missed!'
The CC EFFECT!! WELCOME BACK! You were missed!
Clark had help from her supporting cast as Kelsey Mitchell added 10 of her 22 points in the fourth quarter, including a three that upped the lead to 99-84 lead with 2:12 left.
Lexie Hull added 14 and Aliyah Boston contributed a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds as the Fever prevented the Liberty from becoming the fourth team in WNBA history from opening with 10 straight wins. Indiana shot 48.1% from the field and hit 17 of 35 three-point tries.
Sabrina Ionescu scored 34 on 11-of-20 shooting and Breanna Stewart added 24 but the Liberty (9-1) were outscored 78-62 after the opening quarter. New York shot 42.3 percent overall and were 6-of-29 from three-point range.
After getting a technical foul, Clark hit a 20-footer and her sixth three to extend the lead to 49-43 with 2:23 left and the Fever settled for a 53-50 edge at halftime after Ionescu sank a 34-foot three with four seconds left.
Two free throws by New York's Natasha Cloud opened with a 59-53 lead with 7:31 left in the third. Indiana roared back with 19 straight points before taking a 80-71 lead into the fourth.
New York used a 14-2 run to close within 80-76 on a basket by Marine Johannes with 8:28 left. Mitchell's jumper gave Indiana an 85-78 lead with 6:42 left and she hit a three over Stewart for a 93-82 lead with 4:34 left.