The Seattle Storm battled hard, but Friday night in Indianapolis turned into a record-breaking nightmare for the Emerald City as Caitlin Clark dropped an unbelievable 45 points and dished out 10 assists. This wasn’t just a big night for Clark; she became the first player in WNBA history to record a 40-point, 10-assist game, leading the Indiana Fever to a dramatic 110-107 win. Man, that one stings when it’s against our squad.
A Record-Breaking Performance Against Our Storm
Even before tip-off, Clark apparently felt something special was cooking. She’d been struggling to find her rhythm after coming back from an injury, and with fellow All-Star Aliyah Boston out, the Fever desperately needed their superstar to step up. And boy, did she ever. Her 45 points smashed the franchise record, and paired with those 10 dimes, it created a stat line the WNBA has literally never seen before. Clark said she just had to believe and visualize having those nights, putting in the work, and knowing people, including herself, believed in her. She talked about digging your feet in when things aren’t going your way and finding a path to victory, and that’s exactly what she did to us.
Fourth Quarter Heartbreak and an Injured Star’s Return
When the game was on the line, Clark absolutely owned the fourth quarter. She poured in 16 points in that final frame alone, and get this: she either scored or assisted on 17 of the Fever’s last 19 points! The dagger was a stepback three with only 39 seconds left, putting Indiana up 105-102, a lead they wouldn’t give back. Fever coach Stephanie White couldn’t believe it, saying it was “incredible” and “special,” admitting she looked at the stat sheet and thought, “Holy s, 45 and 10.” Clark’s recent back injury had limited her to just four games since June 24, and she’d looked like she was searching for her form. But White saw it pregame, saying Clark “seemed lighter,” “positive,” and “bouncy.” While Kelsey Mitchell had a monster first quarter with 17 of her 30 points, helping the Fever get an early double-digit lead, it was Clark who found her groove in the second, primarily at the free-throw line, where she put up 14 points. Mitchell and Clark’s combined 75 points also set a new franchise record for a duo. The Fever needed every single one of those points, especially with their defensive issues on full display.
Losing to a historic performance like that is tough, but the Storm have to shake it off. It’s early in the season, and there’s plenty of basketball left. They’ll need to regroup, tighten up that defense, and look forward to the next game.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Leave a Reply