In a WNBA clash that had fans clutching their popcorn, Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark found herself on the wrong end of a steamroller named Alyssa Thomas. But in true Clark fashion, the young star turned the collision into a career-defining moment, leaving both the Connecticut Sun and their fans in stunned silence.
It all went down during the third quarter of Wednesday night’s nail-biter. With Indiana clinging to a slim lead, Clark was tearing through the Sun’s defense like a hot knife through butter. She was in her zone, drilling threes and slashing to the basket with the kind of finesse that has rookie of the year written all over it. But just as she was about to light up the scoreboard again, Thomas, Connecticut’s resident wrecking ball, decided enough was enough.
In a moment that was equal parts audacious and ill-advised, Thomas threw her entire frame into Clark, sending the rookie sprawling across the hardwood. The refs were quick to whistle, calling an offensive foul on Thomas, but the crowd was left gasping, unsure if they had just witnessed a routine pick or a scene from a WWE match.
Now, most rookies might have stayed down, milked the moment, maybe even shed a tear or two. But not Caitlin Clark. Oh no, this kid is made of sterner stuff. She popped back up like a jack-in-the-box, dusted herself off, and delivered the ultimate comeback: a sly wink to the crowd and a playful flick of the tongue, all while eyeballing Thomas with a look that said, “You just made my highlight reel, sweetheart.”
And if you thought that was the end of it, think again. Clark didn’t just shrug off the hit; she owned it. By the end of the third quarter, she had racked up 17 points and, oh yeah, broke the WNBA’s rookie single-season three-point record with her 86th bomb from beyond the arc. Take that, Thomas.
The cherry on top? Clark and her Fever teammates snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Sun with an 84-80 victory that had the celebrity-packed crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on their feet. Among those cheering? None other than Clark’s former Iowa coach Lisa Bluder, TV icon David Letterman, gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, and Colts QB Anthony Richardson. Talk about a star-studded night.
But Clark’s not resting on her laurels. Next up, she’s got her sights set on Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. If Wednesday’s game was any indication, we’re in for another round of must-see TV. Buckle up, WNBA fans, because Caitlin Clark is just getting started.