Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever showcase rapid improvement

Jul. 9—INDIANAPOLIS — There always seems to be some pressing debate swirling in Caitlin Clark‘s orbit.

The current topic du jour is the WNBA rookie of the year race between the Indiana Fever guard and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese.

It’s a compelling competition with both players enjoying historic debuts.

Reese has posted a double-double in 13 consecutive games, setting a league record.

Clark has her own historic double-double streak, becoming the first WNBA player to record at least 10 points and 10 assists in three consecutive games.

The final contest in that string stood out for another reason. With 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds, Clark became the first Fever player to record a triple-double in the franchise’s 25-season history Saturday. And she’s the first rookie to perform the feat in league annals.

“First and foremost, she’s the most competitive human being I’ve ever met,” Indiana head coach Christie Sides said after the Fever’s 83-78 victory over the New York Liberty. “I really compare her to (former WNBA MVP) Diana Taurasi. She’s always looking to find ways to get better. How can I help the team? What can we do?

“… But she just wants to win. She just wants to win, and to me, she’s gonna be my rookie of the year every day. Every day.”

Clark seems uninterested in personal accolades.

She spent more time with the media after her triple-double talking about her teammates’ made baskets than she did any of her own accomplishments.

She was far more willing to talk about the fourth-quarter comeback against the team with the WNBA’s best record.

Indiana (9-13) trailed by 11 points after a pair of free throws by the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart with 8:51 remaining, and the visitors still were in front by 10 points after a pull-up jumper by Sabrina Ionescu with 6:05 to play.

During their 2-9 start — a stretch of 11 games over just 20 days — that kind of deficit likely would have been a death knell for the Fever.

Saturday’s rally showed how much this young team has grown over its last 11 games.

“I feel like we’re definitely finding some confidence in what we’re being able to do out there on the court,” Clark said. “We’re playing together better. But I think the biggest difference for us has been when teams make runs, we don’t crumble.”

Clark clinched her historic triple-double by pulling down her 10th rebound with 7:07 to play.

New York (17-4) led 66-57 at that time. The comeback began a little more than a minute of game time later.

It started with a technical free throw by Clark. Damiris Dantas — making her season debut after recovering from injury — scored to cut the deficit to 71-64, and Lexie Hull‘s driving layup after a successful Liberty free throw pulled Indiana within six points.

A pair of free throws for NaLyssa Smith made it 72-68 with 4:40 to go before Betnijah Laney-Hamilton appeared to stabilize New York with a 3-pointer.

It proved to be the last time the Liberty had control of the game.

Smith made the second of two free throws with 3:59 to play, Clark completed a traditional three-point play at the 2:51 mark and Kelsey Mitchell tied the game with a 3-pointer off a Clark assist with 2:31 left.

Center Aliyah Boston‘s layup off an assist from Mitchell with 2:04 to play put the Fever ahead for good.

New York scored just 16 points in the fourth quarter and was held to just two made field goals over the final six minutes.

“There was a lot of communication,” Boston said. “We tried some different schemes, everyone just being ready for that. I just think we defended well the whole game. They hit tough shots. They’re a great team, but for us to really lock in and lock down those last few minutes, especially those last possessions, was great for us.”

Defense has been the key to a stretch that has seen Indiana post a 7-4 mark in its last 11 games.

The win against the Liberty provided a stark comparison of how much the defense has improved.

New York had won 10 games in the series overall and averaged 99 points in its first three games against the Fever this season.

The win and a loss by the Atlanta Dream later in the night moved Indiana into seventh place in the league standings. The Fever are in a tight three-team race with the Sky and Dream for the final two of eight playoff spots.

That’s the competition Clark is focused on. Indiana hasn’t qualified for the postseason since 2016.

It’s current playoff push has been fueled by a growing home-court advantage.

The Fever have won five straight home games and will try to extend the streak to six with a noon tipoff against the Washington Mystics on Wednesday.

Saturday’s game was the sixth home sellout of the season, and attendance at Gainbridge Fieldhouse has increased by 413.5% over last year.

Indiana ranked 11th among the WNBA’s 12 teams in home attendance in 2023. It’s first in the league this summer.

The Fever stayed afloat with two wins on a five-game road trip then welcomed its return home with its biggest victory to date.

“The crowd was incredible,” Sides said of Saturday’s throng. “They were loud. It’s just amazing that we’re getting to play in front of these amazing fans at home. Being on the road five games is tough, but to come home to this and to get the win for our fans is incredible.”