Caitlin Clark’s second professional outing proved an arduous trial for the Fever rookie phenom.
The former Iowa sharpshooter found herself ensnared in a maze of Liberty defenders, chief among them the implacable Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. Clark mustered a mere nine points on a woeful 2-of-8 shooting as Indiana was routed 102-66 by New York on Thursday night.
Clark’s performance was eclipsed by Liberty’s MVP Breanna Stewart, who erupted for 31 points (12-of-21 shooting) to spearhead the New Yorkers’ onslaught.
Yet, Stewart was not alone in her dominance, as four of the Liberty’s five starters cracked double-digit scoring, while their defense – traditionally viewed as a potential weakness – suffocated the Fever into a paltry 36.7 percent shooting display.
As anticipated, Clark flashed tantalizing glimpses of her genius. She left her fingerprints across other facets, corralling seven rebounds and dishing six assists. A maiden triple-double hardly seems an immense leap.
However, she must swiftly adapt to the unrelenting attention thrust upon her. Teams appear hellbent on nullifying her impact, flooding her with waves of defenders and affording her scarce airspace. She bricked six of her seven three-point attempts on Thursday.
Nevertheless, the marathon continues for Clark and her Fever teammates. They’ll turn their sights back to New York on Saturday. Perhaps that outing will yield a more fruitful display. It can scarcely worsen, can it?
The Sporting News tracked Clark’s live stats from her Liberty clash. Follow below for highlights, updates, and more as two of the league’s most talked-about contenders dueled in Nap Town.
Fever vs. Liberty score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fever | 16 | 15 | 25 | 10 | 66 |
| Liberty | 25 | 23 | 19 | 35 | 102 |
Caitlin Clark stats
- Points: 9
- Rebounds: 7
- Assists: 6
- Steals: 0
- Blocks: 1
- TOs: 3
- Fouls: 5
- FGs: 2-8 (1-7 from three)
Caitlin Clark live updates, results, highlights from 2024 WNBA debut
End of fourth quarter: Liberty 102, Fever 66
9:01 p.m.: Clark pulled with around four minutes left as the Fever wave the white flag. Another uneven showing, as she finishes with just nine points on 2-of-8 shooting.
8:50 p.m: The Liberty showcased their championship pedigree, stringing together a 12-0 run to open the frame as their lead ballooned back to 20.
End of third quarter: Liberty 67, Fever 56
8:41 p.m.: Steadily but surely, the Fever clawed back into contention! That 23-point deficit was whittled down to just 11 on the back of Clark’s scoring burst.
8:38 p.m.: Clark splashes her first triple of the night, side-stepping Leonie Liebich before burying the long ball.
8:36 p.m.: A nightmarish outing for Clark, who hit two free throws – her first points since the opening quarter.
8:32 p.m.: Sublime pass by Ionescu to find Nyara Sabally streaking past Boston for a layup on the break. A dominant stretch by the Fever spanning nearly three full quarters.
8:21 p.m.: The third quarter tips, and it’s more of the same from Stewart, who tallies two quick baskets to push her total to 24 points. An MVP-caliber showing.
End of second quarter: Liberty 48, Fever 31
8:01 p.m.: Clark picks up her third foul late in the quarter. She’s looked a tad subdued thus far, though the Fever still face an uphill 48-31 deficit.
8:00 p.m.: Brilliant dump-off by Clark sets up Boston’s first bucket of the second period. A challenging outing so far for the South Carolina product at 3-of-9. Perhaps that’ll get her going.
7:56 p.m.: Stewie does it again! Blows by Boston before her shot clangs violently down the other end. What a defensive play!
7:55 p.m.: Tremendous rejection by Stewart, who sniffs out Boston’s move and swats away the Fever star’s hook. She’s impacting the game at both ends, already up to 18 points.
7:42 p.m.: The Fever are finding their footing with their bench brigade. Lexie Hull drains a corner triple after Kristy Wallace’s reverse layup. Indiana has sliced New York’s lead to just four.
End of first quarter: Liberty 25, Fever 16
7:33 p.m.: The offensive fireworks are raging in this one. Stewie splashes another bucket – a step-back triple – to extend the Liberty’s cushion. She’s up to 11 points already in the first.
7:30 p.m.: Pure basketball artistry from Street, who spins past her defender before floating in a lefty layup over Boston. The reigning Rookie of the Year scored nicely on Stewart, who ensured she returned the favor.
7:29 p.m.: Strong start for Sabrina Ionescu, who is 3-of-6 with seven points early.
7:28 p.m.: After an extended review, the refs opt to move past the fracas, issuing no technicals to Boston or Jones for their brief shoving match. Boston heads to the line while Jones takes a seat.
7:25 p.m.: Physicality escalates as Boston and Jonquel Jones exchange shoves after Jones hooks Boston’s arm on a drive. The second-year center hasn’t found much room against the bruising Jones. Referees reviewing for potential technical fouls.
7:18 p.m.: Brilliant two-woman sequence from Clark and Boston, who execute a give-and-go before Clark kicks out to Katie Lou Samuelson for an open triple. Heady play from the last two No. 1 picks.
7:16 p.m.: Clark’s first shot of the game finds pay dirt. She muscles through Laney-Hamilton’s strength before flicking in a teardrop.
7:14 p.m.: Stewart opens the scoring with a pair of jumpers from the paint. New York looking every bit as imposing as advertised early.
7:13 p.m.: Liberty win the tip and we’re underway! Betnijah Laney-Hamilton draws the unenviable task of checking Clark at the outset.
7:10 p.m.: Quite the introduction for Clark, announced fifth during starting lineup intros to raucous applause. Tip-off is nigh.
6:50 p.m.: Effusive praise for Clark from Liberty coach Sandy Brondello during her pregame presser.
6:40 p.m.: Both teams’ starting fives are set, with no surprises in either lineup.
6:30 p.m.: Clark is champing at the bit to showcase her talents in front of a raucous Indianapolis crowd. The rookie is quickly becoming a fan favorite.
6:00 p.m.: If you thought only one side looked runway-ready, think again. Here come the Liberty, strutting through the tunnel like models on a catwalk.
5:35 p.m.: Here’s a glimpse of the Fever’s eye-catching, grandiose court design for their home opener. An unmistakable statement piece, for better or worse.
5:30 p.m.: Speaking of entrances, it’ll be tough to top that of fellow Fever guard Erica Wheeler. I can barely make out the exotic sports car she arrived in.
5:20 p.m.: Clark has entered the building, decked out in a black top with flared floral black-and-white pants. Looks like she might be rocking some all-black kicks as well.
5:10 p.m.: The atmosphere inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse is electric, with fans buzzing feverishly in anticipation of Clark’s home debut. The rookie sensation has swiftly become the city’s newest darling.
5:05 p.m.: Warm-ups are underway, both teams exuding an intense, laser-focused aura. The Liberty, in particular, seem to carry an unmistakable aura of steely determination befitting their status as preseason title favorites.
5:00 p.m.: Courtside seats are filling up rapidly, a veritable who’s who of Indiana sports royalty and celebrities filing in. This game has undeniably captured the imagination of the entire city.
Fever vs. Liberty start time
- Date: Thursday, May 16
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
The Fever’s clash with the Liberty tips off at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 16 from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
How to watch Fever vs. Liberty
- TV channel: N/A
- Live stream: Amazon Prime Video
This matchup will not be broadcast on national television. However, fans can stream the action live on Amazon Prime Video.
Caitlin Clark WNBA schedule
Here is a table for Caitlin Clark’s WNBA schedule:
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16 | vs. Liberty | 7 p.m. | Prime Video |
| May 18 | at Liberty | 1 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| May 20 | vs. Sun | 7 p.m. | ESPN, TSN 4, Sling |
| May 22 | at Storm | 10 p.m. | WNBA League Pass |
| May 24 | at Sparks | 10 p.m. | ION, Sling |
