The Indiana Fever picked up their eighth loss of the WNBA season, losing 103-88 to the Seattle Storm despite 20 points from Caitlin Clark. The growing pains continue for Clark, who picked up another technical foul after jawing with Storm guard Victoria Vivians. The Chicago Sky took the win over the Los Angeles Sparks in a game where rookies Angel Reese and Cameron Brink were relatively quiet.
The Indiana Fever suffered their eighth loss of the season, losing 103-88 to the Seattle Storm on Thursday, despite Caitlin Clark’s 20 points and nine assists.
The star rookie played almost the entire game but the Fever continued to struggle to start the season, sitting with a record of just 1-8
The first half suggested that the game may go down to the wire, with Seattle leading by 47-41 at the half.
But the Fever’s defense, as it has multiple times this season, went AWOL in the third quarter and they were outscored 34-18. They opened the quarter with a 12-2 run, and went on to make 12 of 17 shots.
Seattle guard Nneka Ogwumike was unstoppable in the third, going 4-for-4 from the field for nine points.
“The third quarter was when we lost the game,” Clark said. “I just thought our defensive rotations were bad… It’s not really about our offense. It was our defense. You’re not going to win a basketball game giving up 103.”
Jewell Loyd led Seattle with 22 and Skylar Diggins-Smith added 18 points and nine assists.
“A lot of it was composure,” said Loyd, who is the league’s reigning scoring leader.
“Some of it was being able to get stops. Because we were able to get so many defensive stops, we were able to just flow and make plays. That’s when we’re at our best.”
Clark also picked up her third technical foul in nine games on Thursday night for a verbal clash with Storm guard Victoria Vivians. Clark hit a long three-pointer over Vivians, and she got in Clark’s face. Clark jawed back, and officials called a double technical on both players.
You’ve got two competitive people,” Clark said of her run-in with Vivians.
Fever coach Christie Sides also picked up a tech after Clark went through contact for a layup and didn’t draw a foul.
Eyes will be firmly on Clark even more so in the Fever’s next game, as they face the Chicago Sky. Clark and Angel Reese, fierce competitors at the collegiate level, will meet for the first time as pros.
MABREY LEADS SKY TO WIN OVER SPARKS
Marina Mabrey led the way with 20 points and six three-pointers as the Chicago Sky beat the Los Angeles Sparks 83-73 on Thursday night, picking up their first home win of the season.
Elizabeth Williams had 17 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, with Dana Evans adding 15 points and making four steals. Chennedy Carter scored 14 points.
The game’s narrative focused on an intriguing clash between rookies Reese and Cameron Brink, but the pair struggled to impose themselves on the game.
Brink finished with seven points and Reese with six, but the latter did make back-to-back baskets in the final minutes that helped her side secure the win.
Chicago had a lead as high as 21 points in the third quarter but the Sparks battled back, going on a 20-8 run to close out the third and cut the deficit to nine as they entered the fourth.
Chicago’s defense had gone missing in the third, giving away six turnovers, 10 fouls, and allowing 27 points.
Los Angeles cut the score to 78-69 with 2:16 left in the game, but Reese’s back-to-back shots saw Chicago lead 82-69.
The Sparks’ Dearica Hamby had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and Kia Nurse added 17 points for Los Angeles.
Los Angeles now travel to the Footprint Center to face the Phoenix Mercury. For the Sky, it’s the Fever up next and that meeting between Clark and Reese.
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