**Caitlin Clark Shines Again as Indiana Fever Defeat Atlanta Dream in Historic WNBA Matchup**
Caitlin Clark's remarkable performances are becoming a regular highlight in the WNBA. The 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick made history once more during the Indiana Fever’s 84-79 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Monday. Clark's latest achievement marked her 21st game this season with at least 15 points and five assists, setting a new WNBA record.
In this game, Clark tallied 19 points, seven assists, seven rebounds, two steals, and a block. She also drained four three-pointers, bringing her season total to 85, matching the rookie record set by Rhyne Howard of the Dream in 2022.
The game attracted 17,608 fans to the State Farm Arena, setting a new attendance record for a WNBA game in Georgia. This marks the fifth time this season that a team has broken its attendance record with the Fever as the visiting team.
Reflecting on the crowd, Clark expressed her amazement at the growing popularity of women’s basketball. "I feel like I’m just a kid who loves playing basketball," Clark said postgame. "Coming into these packed arenas is incredible. It’s something I never take for granted, and it’s truly special, especially for young girls who come to these games. I would have been thrilled to see such a crowd when I was growing up."
The win moves Indiana to 14-16, placing them third in the Eastern Conference and seventh overall in the league standings. This marks the Fever's highest regular season win total since 2016. Kelsey Mitchell led the team with a season-high 29 points, continuing her streak of four consecutive games with at least 20 points.
2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston also made a significant impact, recording a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Damiris Dantas contributed 11 points, shooting 80% in under 10 minutes of play.
Indiana started strong with an 11-3 run and never looked back, building an 18-point lead by the third quarter. Although the Dream fought back and outscored the Fever in the fourth quarter, the early deficit was too large to overcome.
Atlanta, now 10-19 for the season, was led by Tina Charles with 28 points. Rhyne Howard added 16 points, while Allisha Gray and Jordin Canada contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively.
0 Comments