Caitlin Clark couldn’t secure a win in Minnesota on Saturday night as the Minnesota Lynx topped the Indiana Fever 90-80, marking their sixth consecutive victory. In her first game after setting the WNBA record for most assists in a rookie season, Clark delivered a strong performance with 23 points, her 13th game this season scoring at least 20. However, the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup champions were on fire from beyond the arc, sinking 11 three-pointers, with six of them coming in the first quarter.
Saturday marked the first time Caitlin Clark experienced a loss in Minnesota since her college career began. Clark had previously dominated at Target Center, winning the 2023 and 2024 Big Ten tournament titles with Iowa, maintaining a flawless 6-0 record in the arena. Including her three road victories against Minnesota in college, she was 9-0 in the state since donning a Hawkeyes uniform. She extended that streak to 10-0 when Indiana beat the Lynx on July 14, but it finally ended on Saturday night.
The first quarter was rough for both Indiana and Clark; the team missed all seven of their three-point attempts in the first 10 minutes, and Clark struggled, going 1-for-8 from the field. Meanwhile, Minnesota was on target, hitting six three-pointers to build a 13-point lead.
However, the second quarter saw a complete turnaround for the Fever. Indiana couldn’t seem to miss, and Clark found her rhythm. The Fever closed the half on a 21-9 run, with Clark nailing a signature three-pointer in the final seconds to cut the deficit to one point at halftime.
Minnesota stretched the lead back to double-digits in the third quarter. The Lynx scored on their first five possessions of the quarter and started the second half on a 16-5 run.
Indiana tried to close the gap for the remainder of the game, cutting the deficit to as little as three points. But Minnesota countered with its own run, pushing the lead to as much as 15 points, to prevent the comeback. The Lynx led for all but the first minute-and-a-half of the game.
Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier finished the night as the leading scorer with 31 points.
Caitlin Clark stats
Caitlin Clark wrapped up the game with 23 points, shooting 8-for-18 from the field and 3-for-8 from beyond the arc. She also contributed eight assists, five rebounds, one steal, and had seven turnovers. Her standout quarter was the second, where she scored nine points, making four of her five shot attempts. Indiana’s next game is on the road Monday night against the Atlanta Dream.
