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Caitlin Clark notches first 30-point game in WNBA in incredible all-around effort

By
Social Links for Christian Arnold
Published May 28, 2024, 10:30 p.m. ET

Caitlin Clark scored a WNBA career-best 30 points on Tuesday night against the Sparks.

But she couldn’t lead the Fever to a win as they dropped to a disappointing 1-7 on the season after suffering a tough 88-82 defeat to Los Angeles. 

The impressive effort by Clark came on a night when her Fever faced Cameron Brink, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s WNBA draft.

In addition to the 30-point effort, the No. 1 overall pick shot 43.8 percent from the field and 30.0 percent from 3-point range while recording five rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks.

“I think I just played with an aggressive mindset,” she said. “I think that was the biggest thing — to play downhill the best I could. We did some good things and then we just kind of shot ourselves in the foot.”

One such block came in the second quarter when Clark stuffed a shot by Li Yueru and grabbed the loose ball to charge the other way. 

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots around Los Angeles Sparks guard Kia Nurse
Caitlin Clark, who scored 30 points, shoots around Kia Nurse during the Fever’s 88-82 loss to the Sparks. AP

The Fever superstar moved the ball before getting right back and drilling a deep 3-pointer to pull the Fever within four points. 

She had another impressive block in the fourth quarter when she swatted away a shot by Dearica Hamby near the basket. 

While Clark’s offensive output was impressive yet again, she was plagued by her struggles to control the ball, turning it over seven times. 

Brink, the fellow rookie, finished the night with just three points, three rebounds and two blocks for the Sparks. 

Dearica Hamby #5 of the Los Angeles Sparks attempts a shot against Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever during the fourth quarter in the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 28, 2024
Dearica Hamby goes up for a shot against Caitlin Clark
during the fourth quarter of the Fever’s loss. Getty Images

The Fever’s latest loss moved them to 0-3 at home at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Indiana picked up its first win of the season last week when the Fever defeated the same Sparks, 78-73, at Crypto.com Arena. 

The Fever have turned their focus to defense in recent days as they march on through the early part of the 2024 WNBA season. 

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever and Cameron Brink #22 of the Los Angeles Sparks meet after the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 28, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana
Caitlin Clark and Cameron Brink meet after the game. Getty Images

“We’ve played the most games, the most games on the road, [had] the least amount of rest, so we’re trying to grind it out and figure it out as we go,” Fever coach Christie Sides said after the loss, according to the Indy Star. 

The Fever host the Storm on Thursday.

— with AP