Indianapolis

This season’s heat has brought about some challenges. Yet, Saturday showed us the potential for excellence when everything clicks.

At the start of the year, the Fever didn’t seem like a top title contender. Injuries, particularly to Caitlyn Clark, had a significant impact.

After being out for three weeks, she returned Saturday and looked every bit the MVP candidate. Clark scored 32 points, with 25 in the first half alone, while also flirting with a triple-double and helping set a franchise record for 3-pointers in a single game.

This performance handed Indiana its first loss, reminding us why they’re considered one of the league’s elite teams.

“I expected her adrenaline to be high right from the start,” said Clark’s coach, Stephanie White. “She was eager to get back in.”

“I didn’t think she’d score 25 in the half, though. When she gets that hot, it can really turn games around,” White added. “She led us in the first half, and then others stepped up in the second.”

All doubts about Clark’s return after her injury vanished quickly. She started the game with a long-distance 3-pointer just 45 seconds in, signaling she was back.

“It felt great,” Clark mentioned. “I like to get going early, and it’s always nice to see the ball go through the hoop.”

Clark kept hitting threes, making six in the first half alone. Those 25 points in the opening two periods ranked among the highest in franchise history.

Despite all the media buzz around her, Saturday served as a powerful reminder of Clark’s talent. While scoring 25 points in a half isn’t something to expect regularly, if she continues this level of play, she’ll likely enter the MVP conversation sooner rather than later.

If she maintains that MVP-caliber performance, the Fever will undoubtedly be a leading team in the league.

Though Clark’s first half was impressive, it was in the third quarter that the Fever showcased their determination to win. After leading 53-50 at halftime, Indiana quickly fell behind due to a 9-0 run by their opponents. With no timeouts left to regroup, they had to rely on their instincts.

The response was significant.

Trailing 59-53 with just over seven minutes left in the third, the Fever launched a 25-3 run over the next five minutes, taking control of the game with a 16-point lead.

“Our coach said at halftime that we had used so many timeouts already, so we needed to figure things out on our own,” Clark recalled. “We discussed it in the locker room, and it felt like a moment of growth.”

“In the past, that’s where we tended to falter,” she said, referencing a previous loss in Atlanta. “But today, we really held it together and sparked our own run.”

The Fever never lost that lead. New York narrowed the gap to three points in the fourth quarter, but Indiana responded with a 14-3 run to effectively seal the win, capped by a 3-pointer from Kelsey Mitchell that brought the score to 99-84 with 2:12 left.

“We know basketball is about momentum, and we can’t let it slip away,” Lexie Hull noted. “I trust everyone on this team. We’ve got each other’s backs, especially against a team like New York.”

“They will keep pushing, and they have moments we can’t always stop. But we took steps to shift the momentum,” Hull added. “We’re proud that our group stayed strong.”

This season has already posed numerous challenges. Along with Clark, guard Sophie Cunningham also returned from injuries. Sidney Colson has missed several games this season due to injuries, which has left the Fever without a crucial ball handler at times.

Additionally, Dewanna Bonner was absent for personal reasons on Saturday, as was coach Stephanie White.

The victory against New York felt like a much-needed uplifting moment for the Fever, reinforcing their position near the top of the league.

“Emotionally, this win is a relief,” White said. “It gives us a boost. Going through tough times really puts things into perspective. The important thing is that this team shows resilience and refuses to back down.”

“Without trust, chemistry, and a willingness to make sacrifices during tough times, it’s challenging to win consistently and put yourself in a position to succeed,” she added.