Well, folks, it seems like the Indiana Fever have found their groove, and who else but Caitlin Clark to splash some long-distance magic and sprinkle some rookie records into the mix? In a game that had more twists and turns than a rollercoaster on a caffeine high, Clark decided to go all Steph Curry on us, tying the all-time rookie 3-point record. And as if that wasn’t enough, she did it in style—popping them like they were free candy. Her latest victim? The Atlanta Dream. And let’s just say, they might be waking up from a nightmare tonight.
It all started with Aliyah Boston, who came out like she was on a mission to single-handedly bulldoze the Dream’s defense. An 8-0 start? That’s not just a statement; it’s like announcing, “We’re not here to play nice.” Boston didn’t just set the tone; she played the whole darn symphony. While the Dream tried their best to turn this feverish nightmare into a daydream, the Fever were like, “Nope, not today!” Holding onto their lead like it was the last slice of pizza at a party, they extended it to 18 points at one point. Atlanta tried their best to claw back, but it was like trying to hold water in a sieve—frustrating and ultimately futile.
Of course, the Dream didn’t go down without a fight. They managed to make things interesting in the final minutes because, apparently, they enjoy giving their fans heart palpitations. But just when it seemed like Atlanta might pull off a miracle, the Fever decided to play spoiler. Kelsey Mitchell, cool as a cucumber in a fridge, nailed two free throws that might as well have been the final nails in Atlanta’s playoff coffin.
Mitchell was the queen of the scoreboard, dropping 29 points like it was just another day at the office. Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark continued her rookie tour-de-force with a performance that was as well-rounded as a basketball—19 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. But the headline, of course, was Clark’s 3-point heroics. She went 4-of-9 from deep, and when she tied Rhyne Howard’s rookie 3-point record, you could almost hear the collective groan from the Atlanta bench. Her pièce de résistance? A step-back triple right in Howard’s face early in the fourth quarter. It was the kind of shot that makes you want to just tip your cap and say, “Well played, rook. Well played.”
Clark’s shooting this season has been like a weather report—sometimes sunny, sometimes stormy—but she’s managed to keep her 3-point percentage at a respectable 33% on a healthy diet of 8.5 attempts per game. With 10 games left, she’s not just knocking on the door of 100 triples in her rookie season; she’s practically got her foot in the door.
This win didn’t just boost Indiana’s playoff chances; it practically catapulted them. Now sitting on a 3.5-game lead over the Dream and an effective 4.5-game cushion thanks to the tiebreaker, the Fever are looking like the team no one wants to face in the postseason. And to think, the last time they were in the playoffs, Caitlin Clark was probably still deciding which high school dance to attend.
On the flip side, the Dream’s postseason hopes took a major hit. They’re now trailing the Chicago Sky by a game for that final playoff spot, and with the loss, their path to the playoffs looks about as smooth as a gravel road. Despite a valiant comeback that almost had us believing in fairytales, the Dream now face an uphill battle that’s more mountain than molehill.
So, as the Fever turn up the heat and Clark continues her march towards rookie immortality, one thing’s for sure: Indiana is no longer just dreaming of the playoffs—they’re gearing up to crash the party. And as for Atlanta? Well, they might need to find some new dreams.