Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever get first victory of season vs. LA Sparks
Caitlin Clark led the Indiana Fever to a 87-78 victory over the Sparks in Los Angeles at cypto.com Arena on Wednesday for their first win of the season.
With 24 points, Clark looked to be in full form. She shot 1-of-7 from the 3-point line but dished out nine assists to help keep the Fever's offense humming. Clark added four rebounds, two steals and a block. She also had six turnovers.
Clark played 31 minutes without any injury scares. The third-year player, who was limited to 13 games last season because of a series of soft tissue injuries, had to leave the Fever's season-opening loss to the Dallas Wings twice to get her back adjusted.
Kelsey Mitchell had 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field for the Fever, and Aliyah Boston went the whole game without a field goal. Boston finished with four points and seven rebounds.
"Man, can she score the ball," Clark saidwhen asked about Mitchell postgame. "It's pretty incredible. One of the best scorers this league has ever seen. Really lucky to play with her, she makes my life really easy."
Sparks guard Kelsey Plum had 25 points and four assists, while Dearica Hamby added 16 points and eight rebounds. Cameron Brink finished with 11 points, three blocks and five rebounds after being limited to two points in the first half.
The aforementioned trio was key in a late run that saw the Sparks cut the Fever's lead to single-digits after trailing by as many as 21 points.
After losing their season-opener 105-78 to the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, the Sparks' pursuit of their first win of the season will continue on Friday against the Toronto Tempo.
End of Q3: Fever 68, Sparks 52
Callie Fin
The Sparks' offense has looked more and more disjointed as this game against the Fever continues to unfold, even though losing the third quarter 20-18 was the best period so far for Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, the Fever are clicking despite Clark being 0-of-5 from 3 and Aliyah Boston still not having a field goal.
Kelsey Mitchell is up to a game-high 21 points for the Fever.
Halftime: Indiana Fever 48, LA Sparks 34
Callie Fin
There's plenty of game to be played, but Indiana is beginning to pull away. Kelsey Mitchell is up to 17 points for the Fever after shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from the 3-point line in the second quarter.
Clark has 11 points and six assists. Even though she's 0-for-3 from distance, she's helping create space for Mitchell to score.
Aliyah Boston, one of the league's many new million-dollar players, has yet to score a field goal for the Fever.
Kelsey Plum leads the Sparks with 13 points.
Caitlin Clark gets technical foul
Callie Fin
As the Sparks and Fever were heading to the locker room for halftime, Caitlin Clark earned herself a technical foul. She took issue with an offensive foul called on her on Indiana's final possession of the period. She then continued to shout and gesture at an official during the duration of the Sparks' closing possession, even after time expired in the half.
End of 1Q: Indiana Fever 24, LA Sparks 20
Callie Fin
The Sparks and Fever both have former No. 1 picks leading their offenses and it shows. Caitlin Clark's hot start — seven points, three assists and two turnovers in 7:42 of playing time — fueled the Fever. The 2024 No. 1 overall pick helped her team to a slight edge, but Kelsey Plum is keeping her team in it. Plum, the 2017 No. 1 overall pick, had seven points, three assists and one turnover as she played the entire first quarter.
Cam Brink blocks Caitlin Clark
Callie Fin
After a 13-month recovery process from tearing the ACL and meniscus in her left knee, Sparks forward Cameron Brink recorded her first block of the season as Caitlin Clark attempted to drive to the basket — and it was an emphatic one, with NBA legend and Sparks co-owner Magic Johnson sitting courtside.
If you can read lips, you don't have to wonder what Brink was thinking as she swatted Clark's shot to the sideline.
Fever-Sparks underway at crypto.com Arena
Callie Fin
The Fever won the tipoff but Sparks guard Kelsey Plum forced Caitlin Clark to turn the ball over on the first possession and Rae Burrell quickly converted with a layup on the other end to open scoring for the Sparks. Clark was fast to respond with a bucket of her own.
Caitlin Clark talks injury progress: 'I feel great'
Callie Fin
It’s no secret that Caitlin Clark was riddled by injuries last season. She played only 13 games after a series of soft tissue injuries.
From a quad injury in training camp, to another quad injury early in the season, then two separate groin injuries in the two subsequent months -- Clark went from missing the WNBA All-Star Game to the rest of the season. She had hopes to return for the playoffs and was sidelined with an ankle issue.
Clark told USA Sports pregame that her long stint in rehab has paid off. But, she did have to get her back adjusted twice during the Fever opener.
“I feel really great. Recovery is the most important thing for me right now, but I feel great going into tonight,” Clark said. “(I’m) just continuing to get my feet back under me. I haven’t really played 30 minutes in about a year. So this is very different for me, but just giving myself grace and time to kind of get back into things and feel things out. “
Indiana Fever starting five
Los Angles Sparks starting five
Los Angeles Sparks pregame fits
Caitlin Clark, Fever arrive in LA
What time is Los Angeles Sparks vs. Indiana Fever?
The Indiana Fever travel to Los Angeles to take on the Sparks on Wednesday, May 13 at 10:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. PT) at crypto.com Arena.
Los Angeles Sparks vs Indiana Fever: TV, streaming
- Date: Wednesday, May 13
- Time: 10:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. PT)
- Location: crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
- TV: USA Network
- Stream: Fubo