Caitlin Clark hits crucial three-pointer to lift Indiana Fever to first win of season over LA Sparks

CNN
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Caitlin Clark Hit the win-ceiling Three-pointer to help lift the Indiana Fever to their first win of the season against the LA Sparks on Friday night.

Clark made a deep shot from near the half-court logo to give his Indiana team a 78-71 lead with 40.5 seconds left. The Fever would go on to win 78-73.

2024 No. 1 overall draft pick struggled to score all night, Boxing missed his first seven attempts in the second game of a three-game sweep. He finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists against the Sparks.

“Honestly, I went to the bench: ‘I had to come in, they had to go in,'” Clark said of his two fourth-quarter threes. to ESPN. “I missed a lot throughout the game. It’s time for them to go in.”

While Clark struggled to score, his teammates picked up the slack at Crypto.com Arena.

Kelsey Mitchell scored a game-high 18 points, while Aaliyah Boston — last season’s Rookie of the Year — and Demi Fogbenle each added 17 points.

Playing in front of a record crowd of 19,103 fans — the game was moved from the Sparks’ usual home in Long Beach to Crypto.com Arena due to high demand — the Fever opened the third quarter on a 16-3 run. 45-34 trailing 50-48 lead.

With the game in the balance as time wore on, Clarke found his range.

The first of his late three pointers extended the Fever’s lead to 72-66 with 2:27 left in the game. The Sparks responded with a 6-0 run, including 2024 No. 2 overall draft pick Cameron Brink included three runs to get back to within two points before Clarke moved the Fever forward for good.

After losing its first five games, Indiana picked up its first win of the season.

“It was a whirlwind,” Clark said. “This is my job, this is what I love to do, but I never want to lose the fun of the game, and nights like tonight remind me why I love playing basketball.”

Deirka Hamby had 15 and 16 points to lead the Sparks along with 18 points.