INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark faced pressure on Wednesday night in the only manner Caitlin Clark knows how: achieving her second triple-double of the season right as the clock expired in the 93-86 victory against the Los Angeles Sparks. The pressure stemmed from the fact that the Fever had secured their playoff spot overnight due to opponents’ losses and had the entire day to dwell on it before the game began.
Indiana was behind at halftime. The last-place Sparks, who aren’t out of the postseason race yet but are inching closer to elimination daily, remained competitive with the Fever throughout the evening. Indiana’s typically smooth offense appeared sluggish in the first half, with excessive turnovers stifling scoring spurts. It wasn’t until Clark scored 10 points in the third quarter and Aliyah Boston contributed eight in the fourth — that things started to stabilize.
Clark played the full 40 minutes for the fourth time this season.
When questioned if she ever requests to be substituted, both she and Boston replied simultaneously with a no.
“I enjoy sprinting, I already mentioned that to you guys,” Caitlin Clark joked afterward. “Finding a balance of when to save my energy during the game while maintaining a fast pace is essential; there are times you can strategize… tonight, I felt really good and could go the whole way…the (coaches) don’t really inquire, it’s not entirely my decision… I could probably handle another 40.”
To be fair, Caitlin Clark did acknowledge she briefly took herself out in the first game following the Olympic break.
Clark snagged her 10th rebound of the night with an over-the-shoulder catch reminiscent of a wide receiver, with only 10 seconds left. She was closest to the ball, but for good measure, even Boston raised her hands and stepped back. Boston had already secured 14 boards. Clark beamed as she dribbled towards the opponent’s 3-point line. Teammates quickly gathered around her as the buzzer sounded to celebrate Clark.
They had even more to be cheerful about. It marked the team’s fifth consecutive win, boosting their record to 7-1 post-break.
Caitlin Clark, Fever once again have multiple winning contributions to maintain streak
Wednesday night exemplifies the definition of a classic trap game. The Fever secured their first playoff berth in seven seasons and achieved a 6-1 record over the course of four road games to reach this point — all without the need for this six-game homestand. Head coach Christie Sides conceded that the previous night’s clinch was partially responsible for their uneven play in the early quarters.
Starter NaLyssa Smith, not typically renowned for her defense, set the pace with blocks and deflections. Although Clark, Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell may have been the All-Stars that propelled the Fever to victory, it was Smith and Lexie Hull who played crucial roles in getting there. With approximately two minutes left and a six-point lead, Smith rejected All-Star Dearica Hamby and followed it with a flex.
“Massive plays,” Sides remarked. “That’s what I told Lyss just when we were in the locker room.”
With only a three-point margin and 56 seconds remaining, Hull sprinted for an offensive rebound following Mitchell’s missed 3-pointer. Hull was fouled and converted both free throws, extending the lead to five, and that sealed the game. It’s also crucial not to overlook Boston. Sides noted pregame that Boston wasn’t satisfied with her offensive contribution in the past two games. Boston posted both more points (24) and rebounds (14) on Wednesday than her combined total in the last two games, dominating the paint.
Young Fever core manages emotions, pursuing a better playoff seed
The intriguing narrative surrounding the Fever clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2016 is that they have primarily done so with players all drafted in-house: Mitchell in 2018, Hull and Smith in 2022, Boston in 2023, and now Caitlin Clark in 2024. These were the five starters on Wednesday and have been for the last few games too. The group could have let their guard down after such a significant achievement.
“I just attempt to gauge their emotions,” Sides stated regarding managing feelings with her youthful squad. “My assistant coaches excel in this regard. The players have a good sense of where everyone is, and before a game, during warmups, they will approach me and let me know… maybe you should mention something… the character in that locker room is remarkable.”
Sides, the first Coach of the Month in franchise history, recounted a story from when she was appointed for the 2023 season. Rick Fuson inquired how long it would take to rebuild and return to the playoffs. Sides responded four years, possibly three, and was hired on that basis for a four-year term. It’s currently year two.
Clark also mentioned that playoffs are the expectation; it’s not a celebration, and there is more work to be accomplished.
“We do not have anything to demonstrate,” Sides stated. “We simply need to enhance.”
Image Source: Caitlin Clark @ Instagram
