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Caitlin Clark hits 7 3-pointers, ties career-high 30 points in Fever's win over Mystics

Clark boldly shot from all over the court in Indiana's third win of the season

ian casselberry
Contributing writer
·3 min read
1.3k

This is the Caitlin Clark WNBA fans have been waiting to see.

Facing the Washington Mystics on Friday night, Clark looked like the star that brought legions of fans to women's basketball during her career at Iowa. She put on a show for a sellout crowd at Capital One Arena in D.C., showing fans the daring sharpshooter who boldly took 3-pointers from everywhere on the court.

The Indiana Fever guard hit seven 3s (shooting 7 for 13 from behind the arc) while tying a WNBA career-high 30 points with eight rebounds, six assists and four steals in an 85–83 win over the Mystics. She also had eight turnovers.

Clark's seven 3-pointers are the most she has hit in her WNBA career, topping the four she made in the first and third games she played this season. Her first 30-point game came in a May 28 loss to the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.

Despite Clark's scoring total, the Fever barely escaped with a victory over the winless Mystics. Aliyah Boston missed two free throws with Indiana leading 82–80, giving Washington an opportunity to tie the score. But Ariel Atkins missed on a drive to the basket and the Mystics had to foul on the next possession.

Clark made three of four free throws during the final seconds to tie her career high and give Indiana just enough of a margin to secure the win.

Friday's game was a considerable turnaround for Clark, who scored a career-low three points Sunday in a 104–68 blowout loss to the New York Liberty. The breakout shooting display also provided an exclamation point to a week in which Clark's season thus far and the attention she's received was a major subject in the sports world and beyond.

Indiana won its third game of the season, while Washington remained winless at 0–10, the only WNBA club yet to earn a victory in 2024.

The Mystics threw several defenders at Clark — notably Julie Vanloo, Didi Richards and Karlie Samuelson — but Clark frequently freed herself up with crossover dribbles and stepbacks, in addition to some strong screens from teammates. And it didn't matter how far back from the arc she was. Clark was putting it up.

Kelsey Mitchell added 16 points for the Fever, with NaLyssa Smith finishing with 10 points and 20 rebounds. Boston also scored 10.

The Mystics were led by Stefanie Dolson's 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the floor (including 5-for-6 on 3s), followed by 16 from Atkins.

Clark's performance certainly justified the Mystics moving Friday's game to the larger Capital One Arena and its 20,356 seating capacity to accommodate the demand for tickets. Washington usually plays its home games at Entertainment and Sports Arena, which has a capacity of 4,200. But they played before a sellout crowd to see the Fever's rookie sensation.

Up next for the Fever is the currently undefeated (9–0) Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on Monday. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET.