Caitlin Clark is gearing up in style for her next showdown with Angel Reese, as the Indiana Fever continue their impressive run with a fourth straight WNBA win, this time against the Atlanta Dream.
In another sold-out arena, the Fever showcased their dominance with a commanding 79-91 victory. Caitlin Clark was once again pivotal, even though she didn’t hit her electrifying best until the third quarter. She scored 16 points, with seven assists and four rebounds, demonstrating her ability to rise to the occasion when needed.
The Fever’s performance was a strong message to the Chicago Sky and Angel Reese ahead of their upcoming clash in Illinois. The most remarkable aspect of their win was that Clark only turned up the heat in the third quarter when Atlanta cut the deficit from 15 points to eight. In response, Clark executed a crafty maneuver down the right for two points and then sank a breathtaking three-pointer despite the defense of three Dream players. Her performance reignited the Fever’s momentum, extending their lead back to 14 points and quashing any hopes Atlanta had of mounting a comeback.
Clark’s brilliance shone through in pivotal moments. She became the third-fastest player in WNBA history to reach 100 assists, adding to the spectacle for the 17,000-strong crowd. In the first quarter, Clark’s bullet pass to Kristy Wallace led to a three-pointer. In the second quarter, she nailed two booming three-pointers, the second following a sharp steal by Erica Walker, which set Clark up with plenty of space to make her shot.
Despite a traveling penalty that momentarily halted her momentum, Clark’s contributions were crucial. The Fever led by 16 points at halftime and maintained a 12-point victory margin by the end. This win brought the Fever’s season record to 7-10, while the Dream slipped to 7-7.
The atmosphere in downtown Atlanta before the game was festive, with Fever and Iowa ‘Clark 22’ jerseys mingling with Argentina ‘Messi 10’ shirts. This scene, vibrant with fans basking in the 90-degree sunshine, seemed almost surreal a few months ago. The night before, soccer superstar Lionel Messi led Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Canada in the Copa America, likely his final international tournament. As Messi’s storied career nears its end, Clark’s is just beginning, marking a new era for women’s sports.
The Dream moved the game to the larger State Farm Arena, home of the Hawks, instead of their usual 3,500-seater Gateway Center Arena. The sellout crowd was a testament to Clark’s growing influence, with Indiana fans making the Fever feel at home as they cruised to victory.
Clark expressed her excitement after the game, saying, “It’s fun going to all these new cities as a rookie and getting to play in front of their crowds. A lot of people spent time and money to come watch our team and enjoy the experience, and because we’re playing great basketball, many of them will come back. That’s a good thing.”
Next up for the Fever is a trip to Chicago on Sunday, which promises to be a challenging encounter. Facing Angel Reese and her team, Indiana will be entering hostile territory as they aim to extend their winning streak to five games. However, with the current form they’re in, the Sky may not be the limit for the Fever.
