Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever’s rookie sensation, took to the court on Saturday night against the Minnesota Lynx and gave fans a moment to remember – and for Courtney Williams, perhaps a moment to forget. Clark, always one for the dramatics, pulled off a crossover so slick it could have sent Williams straight to the bench, but the play ended not with a bang but with a whimper. Still, WNBA fans couldn’t get enough of the highlight, even if it was missing that crucial finishing touch.
Two minutes into the game, with the score still fresh as morning dew, Clark found herself face-to-face with Williams at the top of the key. What followed was a crossover dribble that had Williams doing her best impersonation of a figure skater – minus the grace. As Williams hit the floor, Clark made her way toward the basket with the kind of confidence that suggests she’s been doing this in her sleep. But the basketball gods weren’t smiling on her tonight; as she approached the paint, three Lynx defenders descended on her like hawks on a wounded rabbit. With no clear path to the rim, Clark had no choice but to give up the rock, leaving fans with a “what could’ve been” moment rather than the exclamation point they craved.
Social media, however, didn’t need a made basket to explode with reactions. Fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to sing the praises of Clark’s ankle-breaking move, with one witty observer summing up the night: “Caitlin Clark: Breaking both records and ankles today.” Another fan added, “She’s like Steve Nash, but with a better TikTok game.” But not everyone was satisfied. The peanut gallery had its fair share of armchair coaches, with one fan lamenting, “She should’ve shot this!” and another wistfully commenting, “That should’ve been a floater right there.” It seems the internet remains undefeated in its ability to critique even the most talented athletes.
Clark’s box score was filled with its usual share of highlights: 23 points, five rebounds, and eight assists. She even made it rain from deep, going 8-for-18 from beyond the arc. But as much as she filled up the stat sheet, she also filled up the turnover column, gifting the Lynx seven possessions in a game that saw the Fever come up short, 90-80. It was a valiant effort, but turnovers, like Clark’s sharp dribbling, were all too much for Indiana to overcome.
As for the game itself, the Fever’s hopes of extending their winning streak to three were dashed by a red-hot Napheesa Collier, who lit up the Target Center with 31 points of her own. The Fever kept things close, especially in the second quarter, thanks in part to the dedicated Iowa fans who made the pilgrimage to Minneapolis. But Minnesota, spurred on by the emotional energy of Maya Moore’s jersey retirement, held on to secure the victory.
In the end, it was another night where Clark dazzled and delivered, but the Fever faltered. The rookie continues to make history, becoming the fastest player in league history to reach 500 points and 200 assists, but for now, her highlight reel will have to serve as a consolation prize in the face of another loss. Here’s hoping the next time she drops a defender, the ball finds its way through the hoop – and the Fever find their way into the win column.