Caitlin Clark dominated the Washington Mystics on Friday night at Capital One Arena.
The No. 1 overall draft pick scored 30 points and made a career-high 13 3-pointers against the Mystics, leading the Fever to an 85-83 victory for Indiana’s third win of the season.
The University of Iowa product is just two 3-pointers away from tying the WNBA record for most 3-pointers made in a single game, set by Seattle Storms All-Star Jewell Loyd in 2019 and then by fellow Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell last summer.
Clark’s performance came on the heels of a career-worst performance against the New York Liberty on Sunday, when he made just 1-of-10 shots and scored just three points.
“I’m glad my shots went well, and I think my misses went well too,” Clark said after the game, according to the Associated Press.
Her 30 points on Friday matched her previous personal best, which she recorded on May 28 against the Los Angeles Sparks, when she also scored 30 points in a loss.
Clark’s previous career high was four 3-pointers, which she had made twice in the WNBA.
Clark’s full line on Friday also included eight rebounds, six assists, four steals and eight turnovers.
Clark scored 20 of his 30 points in the second half as the Fever outshot the Mystics, 42-40.
Clarke’s third win as a professional was a challenge, but he said it was tough to play so many matches in such a short period of time.
Indiana started the year by playing 11 games in 20 days.
“I think we’d all say it’s not ideal,” Clark said. “It’s not the ideal way to play basketball. I think you can see the fatigue on our faces, probably more mental fatigue than physical.”
The loss drops Washington to 0-11 this season.
The Mystics are the only WNBA team yet to win this year and were a four-point underdog at home to the Fever on Friday.
The Fever will be looking for their fourth win on Monday, but they’ll face a tough challenge against the Connecticut Sun, who boast the league’s best defense and are the only undefeated team at 9-0 and have already beaten the Fever twice.
