It was a night that started with a gasp and ended with a collective exhale. Caitlin Clark, the WNBA’s resident superstar, gave fans a scare that could’ve rivaled any horror movie, only to turn around and remind everyone why she’s built like the hero who never stays down. In what can only be described as another chapter in the ongoing saga of “The Legend of Clark,” the Indiana Fever toppled the Atlanta Dream 84-79, and yes, Caitlin did it with one ankle that dared to act up.
The drama unfolded faster than you could say, “Not again!” With just over three minutes left in the first quarter, Clark, in her typical go-hard-or-go-home fashion, attempted to blast through a screen. Instead, she found herself tasting the hardwood, clutching her left ankle like it had just insulted her entire basketball career. The arena went silent—well, except for that one fan who screamed, “No, Caitlin, NO!”
As her teammates rushed to her side, one could almost hear the collective heartbeat of Indiana skip a beat. Clark’s face grimaced as she lay there, clearly contemplating whether to give her ankle a stern talking-to or just order a new one on Amazon.
But here’s the twist: Superheroes don’t stay down. The Fever’s training staff swooped in like the Avengers, helped her off the court, and sat her down on the bench. As the first quarter ended, every fan in the building was contemplating lighting a candle for Clark’s recovery, but what did the woman herself do? She opted to get re-taped and hop back into action for the second quarter, of course. Classic Clark.
“I saw the replay, and I look really soft,” she quipped, with the kind of nonchalance that makes you question if she’s human after all. “It wasn’t that bad of a turn, but it hurt.” If anyone ever doubted Clark’s grit, she just gave them a reality check—sprained ankles are apparently the gateway to being a real baller. Clark knows this because, well, she’s sprained hers a bunch. And she’s still out here making defenders wish they’d chosen another career.
Despite her ankle’s attempt to stage a mutiny, Clark finished the night with a solid 19 points, including a clutch 3-pointer that tied the WNBA rookie record for most 3’s in a season—85, to be exact. The best part? She drained it right in front of Rhyne Howard, who set the record in 2022. Talk about poetic justice. Or maybe just Clark being Clark.
And let’s not forget, she did it all while casually throwing down seven rebounds and seven assists, just to remind everyone that she’s not here to mess around. Her ankle? Seemed more like a minor inconvenience than an actual problem.
The Fever led the entire game, but Atlanta, in true Dream fashion, decided to make it interesting in the final moments, probably thinking they could catch Clark off guard. Spoiler alert: They couldn’t. Not when she’s out here delivering behind-the-back plays that make defenders look like they’re in slow motion.
Oh, and did we mention the game was moved to the much larger State Farm Arena? Because, of course, everyone and their basketball-loving grandma wanted to witness the Caitlin Clark show. The ankle scare was just a plot twist—what’s a superhero movie without one?
In the end, Clark’s ankle scare might’ve made hearts stop for a second, but as always, she proved that nothing can keep her down for long. The Fever secured the win, Clark tied yet another record, and the legend of Caitlin Clark continues to grow.