Caitlin Clark drops 45 as Fever edge Storm on record night
Clark posted the WNBA’s first 40-point, 10-assist game as Indiana beat Seattle 110-107 in Indianapolis.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
2 min read
Caitlin Clark turned Friday night in Indianapolis into a record book sprint, scoring a career-high 45 points with 10 assists as the Indiana Fever beat the Seattle Storm 110-107.
According to ESPN News Services, Clark’s line made her the first player in WNBA history to finish a game with at least 40 points and 10 assists. She also added four steals and two blocks in a frantic win that pushed Indiana to 15-10.
The 45 points were a Fever franchise record, according to the report. ESPN Research also said Clark became the first WNBA player to score 45 or more points in fewer than 30 minutes, doing it in 29 minutes and 28 seconds.
That was not the only milestone. Clark reached 200 career 3-pointers in her 74th game, the fastest in league history, ESPN News Services reported. Katie Smith held the previous mark at 81 games.
Indiana needed every bit of it. Seattle stayed close deep into the fourth quarter before Clark made two of the game’s defining plays in the final minute.
With 54.9 seconds left, Flau’jae Johnson appeared headed for a fast-break layup. Clark chased the play down and blocked the shot off Johnson and out of bounds, according to the game report. On Indiana’s next key possession, Clark hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to put the Fever ahead 105-102.
She then went 4-for-4 at the free-throw line over the final 17 seconds to close out the win.
Kelsey Mitchell gave Indiana a second scoring burst, finishing with 30 points. Monique Billings added 16 for the Fever, who played without Aliyah Boston because of a leg issue on the first night of a back-to-back, ESPN News Services reported.
The Fever started fast. Mitchell scored 17 points in the opening quarter on 7-of-9 shooting, while Clark had five points, five assists and two steals. Indiana matched its highest-scoring first quarter of the season and led 37-26 after one.
Clark later powered a 12-4 Fever run by scoring 10 of those points, ending the burst with a 3-pointer that stretched Indiana’s lead to 49-32 with 7:28 remaining before halftime.
Seattle, now 6-21, got 28 points and 14 rebounds from Dominique Malonga. Johnson and Awa Fam each scored 16, while Natisha Hiedeman and Jade Melbourne added 15 apiece.
The Storm have dropped four straight games and six of their past seven, according to the report. Indiana also beat Seattle 89-78 at home on May 17.
The Associated Press contributed information to ESPN’s report.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.