Before the second half began, Caitlin Clark said she felt soft in Game 1, nearly threw up everything in her stomach, and fouled out with 2:45 remaining in the contest. None of that stopped her from leading the Indiana Fever to an 89-99 victory over the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in Game 2 of their best-of-three first-round series. The decisive Game 3 will be played in Las Vegas on Thursday.
Clark finished with 27 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds on 9 of 18 shooting, including 5 of 11 from deep. She set new playoff career highs in points, rebounds, assists and 3s, and became the first player in WNBA history with a 25-point, 15-assist game. Her 15 assists tied for the third-most in a playoff game in league history, and between her own baskets and assists, she was directly responsible for 24 of the Fever’s 37 field goals and 58 points — tied for the most points created in a playoff game.
“I thought we were just soft in Game 1 and I thought tonight we played much tougher,” Clark said on the broadcast after the game. “Obviously the refs called it pretty tight there at the end, but I thought our aggressiveness overall was good… Just really proud of this group. I think it was a mentality change.”
Fouls, Jump Balls and a Technical
Clark played right on the edge with her emotions throughout. Early in the first half, she tried to draw a foul on Stephanie Talbot on a 3-point attempt but got no call. Instead of hustling back on defense, she looked for a whistle while Young got a layup.
Not long after, she grabbed Wilson for a jump ball and tore the ball from her hands while rousing the spectators. In the early stages of the second quarter, she drew an offensive foul on what she believed was a flop by Mai Yamamoto, and then lost her temper at an official, resulting in a technical foul.
Lob to Boston Seals the Deal
Boston’s late-game assist was the most crucial play. Clark brought the ball up the floor and attempted a middle pick-and-roll with her, but it wasn’t working. Rather than force something, she circled back out to the perimeter and let Boston operate inside.
Boston’s defensive unit was off their game, and they decided to seal Wilson on the high side. Clark delivered the pass with precision, and even though Talbot tried to close out at the last second, Boston still managed to score a big bucket inside.
Back-to-Back 3s Over the MVP
Coach Stephanie White put Clark on the bench at the start of the fourth quarter, hoping to give her a brief rest. When she returned to the floor with just under five minutes left, she seized command of the Fever’s attack.
The throw went to Boston, and she ran into a hand-off that became a staggered screen after Mitchell took the ball away from Young. She let the pass go right away and caught it with a terrific bounce, the ball striking the front of the rim, then the top of the backboard and the rim once more before dropping through the net.
After Young replied with two free throws, Clark fired back with his own 3-pointer on the following possession. Those consecutive baskets kept the Fever ahead.
The Team Around Her
Kelsey Mitchell added 26 points, while Aliyah Boston contributed 22 points, four rebounds and five assists. Together, the Fever’s Big Three accounted for 75 of their team’s 99 points.
Clark was sent off after picking up his fifth foul, and the Aces closed within five points at 87-92 with 2 minute and 11 seconds remaining. Boston answered right back with a hard bucket on the other end, then Mitchell sealed the win by making his free throws.
Aces Struggle to Score
The Aces struggled to find their scoring touch, dropping well below their usual mark after a dominant win in Game 1, when they put up 102 points in a blowout. Four-time MVP A’ja Wilson chipped in with 22 points and nine rebounds, but it was Jackie Young who paced the team with 31 points, leading all scorers.
What Comes Next
The Fever will need to slow down the Aces’ offense again in Game 3 if they want to advance to the semifinals for the second straight season. Clark acknowledged the challenge ahead.
“Obviously it’s gonna take a lot to beat these guys. Defending champions, and they got championship DNA, so we know we have our hands full in Game 3, but just proud of this group and happy for the fans,” Clark said, before joking that she should “throw up again at halftime of the next game.”
Key Numbers From the Night
| Stat | Clark’s Night |
|---|---|
| Points | 27 |
| Assists | 15 |
| Rebounds | 7 |
| Field goals | 9 of 18 |
| 3-pointers | 5 of 11 |
A Chaotic, Brilliant Performance
Early on, Clark was rather wild, committing five turnovers in the first half alone, including both poor passes and an offensive foul, which helped build up a double-digit deficit. However, she found her footing after halftime and played with far greater poise. She went the entire second half without a single turnover and was a key part of the win.
What happened on the floor — the baiting that drew a foul, the jump ball, the technical, the lob to Boston, the two straight 3s — captured a night that was wild and wonderful at once. Clark worked through those early errors and still came through when it mattered most, which is why this ranks among the most unforgettable playoff performances ever.
Clark has previously spoken about how she feels under the strain of elimination games, and now the Fever have an opportunity to force a Game 3.
See the video the story is built around at CBS Sports.
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