Caitlin Clark achieved the first triple-double ever by a rookie in WNBA history, helping Indiana come from behind to beat New York 83-78 on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. This win ended the Fever’s nine-game losing streak against the Liberty.
Clark ended the game with 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds for Indiana (9-13). She was close to a triple-double in a game two matches ago, where Indiana beat the Phoenix Mercury 88-82 on the road.
“It’s really awesome,” Clark said. “My teammates have been finishing well, which helps my assist numbers.”
Indiana coach Christie Sides praised Clark and highlighted how the Fever outscored the Liberty by 12 points in the final quarter.
“Caitlin achieving a triple-double, that’s incredible,” Sides said. “Limiting New York to 16 points in the fourth quarter was crucial for us, especially against the top team in the league.”
Clark scored 11 points in the first quarter, hitting three 3-pointers out of four attempts. She reached double figures in assists during the third quarter and secured her 10th rebound in the fourth quarter.
During the game’s closing moments, Clark made a crucial three-point play, and Kelsey Mitchell tied the game at 75 with a three-pointer with 2:31 remaining.
Aliyah Boston scored after a steal by Mitchell, giving Indiana a two-point lead. Lexie Hull then added a reverse layup to extend the lead to 79-75 with 1:24 left.
New York’s Sabrina Ionescu responded with a three-pointer but missed another attempt on their next possession that could have given the Liberty the lead. Boston made two free throws with 17 seconds remaining, and Mitchell added two more with 11 seconds left to secure the upset victory for Indiana.
New York struggled with their three-point shooting, making only 10 out of 42 attempts. “We played strong defense throughout the game,” Boston commented. “The final minutes, especially the last few possessions, were crucial for us.”
Boston scored 18 points, shooting 8-for-12, and grabbed eight rebounds for the Fever. Mitchell contributed 14 points, extending her streak of scoring in double figures to nine games. NaLyssa Smith, the second pick in the 2022 draft, added 12 points and 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double this season.
Ionescu led New York (17-4) with 22 points, but they had their five-game winning streak snapped. Laney-Hamilton scored 20 points, hitting four three-pointers. Breanna Stewart added 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Jonquel Jones pulled down 12 rebounds along with six points and three steals.
Clark started Indiana off with a 3-pointer and a layup, sparking an 8-0 run at the beginning of the game. She turned a steal into another 3-pointer, giving the Fever their largest lead at 24-12 with 3:04 left in the first quarter.
Laney-Hamilton scored a jumper just before the buzzer, contributing to New York’s final six points of the quarter to cut the deficit to six heading into the second period.
Clark’s turnaround fadeaway jumper pushed Indiana to a 31-20 lead with 7:48 remaining in the second quarter. However, Jones scored the final five points in a 12-0 run, putting New York ahead for the first time. Smith ended a scoring drought of over five minutes for Indiana with a layup to reclaim the lead.
Stewart, who averaged 22.7 points in three previous wins against the Fever this season, sank two free throws in the final minute to bring New York within 39-38 by halftime.
Laney-Hamilton hit a go-ahead jumper, and Ionescu followed with a basket and a 3-pointer after a steal by Stewart, giving New York a 57-50 lead with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter. Laney-Hamilton made a pull-up jumper with three seconds left, and the Liberty took a 62-55 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Clark mentioned that the Fever are learning how to handle pressure when things are tough. “I think the biggest change has been that when teams go on runs, we don’t fall apart,” Clark said. “We’ve found ways to stay strong and narrow the gap.”
New York coach Sandy Brondello wasn’t pleased with how the Liberty started the game.
“I didn’t feel like we came out with the urgency we needed to compete,” Brondello said. “They’ve won six of their last 10 games. They executed better than us in crunch time.”
Indiana defeated New York for the first time since their 92-86 victory on the road on May 13, 2022. The Fever now lead the overall series 50-41.
