Kaitlin Clark makes WNBA history after the Indiana Fever’s loss to the Los Angeles Sparks

CNN
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The Indiana Fever’s early-season struggles continued Tuesday with an 88-82 defeat to the Los Angeles Sparks, but… Caitlin Clark produced her most scintillating performance to date.

The No. 1 overall pick finished with 30 points, five rebounds, six assists, three steals and three blocks in the game, He became the first starter — and the fourth player overall — in WNBA history to record a 30-5-5-3-3 stat line.

She is also now the fastest rookie in WNBA history to score 100 points and 50 assists.

“Honestly, I think I played with an aggressive mentality,” Clark told reporters. “I think that was the most important thing, just playing on the slopes as best I could.

“I wish I could have made some more 3-pointers…but I thought we did some good things and then we kind of shot ourselves in the foot.”

The Fever opened up a 55-48 lead with 2:34 remaining in the third quarter, but the Sparks then went on an 11-0 run to end the period and take a lead they never relinquished.

Christy Sides’ side have now lost seven of their first eight games after a tough schedule to start the season.

The eight games they have played since the start of the season two weeks ago are also the most games played by any team in the league and double the number of games played by two other teams.

Clark shot 43.8% from the field against the Sparks and went 3-for-10 from deep.

This was also the highly anticipated second meeting between Clark and Cameron Brink, the No. 2 pick in the draft, who finished a quiet night with just three points, three rebounds and two assists.

Kia Nurse scored a team-high 22 points for Los Angeles, shooting five of six from beyond the arc.

Despite a difficult start to the season, Clarke continues to draw huge crowds with more than 16,000 in attendance again for Tuesday’s game, including Indiana Pacers Stars Therese Halliburton.

The 22-year-old recorded seven more turnovers in the defeat – a match high – but believes she has “improved a lot since the start of the season”.

“The biggest thing for me is that when I get there, I’m still a little indecisive — which is honestly why a lot of my sales still come from me,” Clark explained.

“Just a little hesitation when I put my feet in the paint, but I think I’ve done a better job of investigating and finding people open or finishing at the rim. I think I’ve done a better job of understanding who’s guarding me.”

“The situation will continue to improve a lot.” [I’ll] Continue to take care of the ball a little better and find people, and don’t be a little hesitant – I’ve got to make decisions a little quicker once I get my feet in the paint.

The Fever’s next game is a home game against the Seattle Storm on Thursday as Clark looks for her first win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.