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Caitlin Clark did all she could. Or so it seemed. Clark’s record-breaking 19-assist performance came crashing down when her late turnover sealed the Indiana Fever’s defeat to the Dallas Wings. Take a look at the resulting emotional outburst that was so intense that it scared away the staff on the bench.
Down four points with less than 45 seconds to go, Clark broke Dallas’ initial press, but as she tried to make a play in the frontcourt, Wings guard Odyssey Sims poked the ball away from behind. Dallas claimed the loose ball, and Clark’s anger came out during the Wings’ timeout.
The ESPN broadcast flashed Clark’s demonstrative reaction to letting her team down, which drew an awkward look from the Wings’ staff near the bench. She spiked a water bottle, violently letting out all of her frustration. Clark knew she’d thrown away the game, and sure enough, the Wings made both free throws on the next possession to help them ice the game, 101-93.
The loss against the worst team in the WNBA standings cost the improving Fever a chance to enter the Olympics break on a three-game win streak.
The self-critical rookie said that the play took away from her record-breaking night featuring 19 assists. Clark, who averages 5.6 turnovers per game, finished with six turnovers Wednesday night.
“The late turnover definitely kills, for sure,” Clark said. “That one’s really costly, you can’t have it.”
Even in the loss, Clark’s 19 assists and 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting provided further evidence that she is figuring out the league despite her turnover woes. She enters the break averaging 17.1 points, 8.2 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game.
