Game recap: Caitlin Clark's career night can't lift Indiana Fever over L.A. Sparks
The Indiana Fever return from a Western trip to host the Los Angeles Sparks. The Fever (1-6) posted their lone victory last week over the Sparks (1-4).
Caitlin Clark averages a team-leading 15.4 points, 6.3 assists and 1.1 steals. Kelsey Mitchell adds 14.0 points, while Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith both average 10.1 points and more than 6 rebounds. Temi Fagbenle has provided help off the bench (9.6 points, 5.4 rebounds).
More: Opponents guard Caitlin Clark between free throws. She still scored 30 points.
Takeaways: Caitlin Clark scores career-high 30 points, but Fever lose to LA Sparks, fall to 1-7
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Dearica Hamby leads L.A. (20.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists), with help from Lexie Brown (12.2 points, 4.0 assists), No. 2 overall draft pick Cameron Brink (10.8 points, 42.9% 3-pointers, 5.8 rebounds) and Kia Nurse (10.6 points).
Final: Sparks 88, Fever 82
The L.A. Sparks come back from the Fever's early third-quarter run with two double-digit surges to claim the win.
Caitlin Clark is the only Fever threat in the first half and finishes with a season-high 30 points. Aliyah Boston scores all 17 of her points in the second half and Kelsey Mitchell adds 15. Indiana struggles from the field (38.2% overall, 33.3% on 3-pointers).
Aliyah Boston knocks down her second three of the night 💪 pic.twitter.com/EJElwyXvkn
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 29, 2024
Kia Nurse hits 5-of-6 3s for 22 points for L.A., while Aari McDonald comes off the bench to score 21. Dearica Hamby has 17 points and 10 rebounds. L.A. makes 14-of-23 3-pointers (60.9%) to overcome 19 turnovers.
The Fever host Seattle on Thursday.
How much did Caitlin Clark score?
Caitlin Clark scores 30 points (7-of-16 shooting, 3-of-10 3-pointers, 13-of-15 free throws), with 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocked shots and 7 turnovers.
5:22 left 4Q: Sparks 71, Fever 63
Aari McDonald has 19 points, and her 3-pointer prompts an Indiana timeout.
Career-high 21 points & counting for Aari! 🔥@McdonaldAari2 x #TheNewClassic pic.twitter.com/Ymg6cPMpT8
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) May 29, 2024
L.A. is shooting free throws on every foul for the final 6:45.
Aliyah Boston gets the putback and-1 off a Caitlin Clark miss. Boston has 5 straight Fever points and 10, all in the 2nd half. She picks up her 5th foul with 7:59 to go.
HAVE YOURSELF A NIGHT CAITLIN CLARK 🔥
The rook is up to 21 PTS after this stepback TRIPLE
📺 LAS-IND on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/geChqGpoLn— WNBA (@WNBA) May 29, 2024
:36 left 3Q: Sparks 59, Fever 55
The Sparks score 11 in a row. Timeout, Indiana.
L.A. hits 3 3-pointers in a row to take the lead. The Sparks are 9-of-17 from deep.
Rae steals ➡️ Aari makes 'em pay! #TheNewClassic @Raehoops x @McdonaldAari2 pic.twitter.com/HPQa8KXfQ5
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) May 29, 2024
Kelsey Mitchell scores 5 points in a row and is up to 15.
3:20 left 3Q: Fever 50, Sparks 48
Caitlin Clark hits Kelsey Mitchell and Temi Fagbenle for baskets on consecutive possessions. Mitchell, Fagbenle and Aliyah Boston have multiple baskets in the quarter.
Aliyah Boston with the strong putback 💪 pic.twitter.com/HXW7ib7NRp
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 29, 2024
Kia Nurse's 3 with 6:20 to go gives L.A. its first scoring of the quarter.
Temi Fagbenle picks up 2 fouls in a matter of seconds and has 3.
7:53 left 3Q: Fever surge to start third quarter
Fever 41, Sparks 37
The Fever score the first 9 points of the quarter: Caitlin Clark 4 (18 total), Aliyah Boston 3, Temi Fagbenle 2. Timeout L.A.
Boston's first points, a 3-point from the left wing with 8:23 to go, put Indiana ahead 39-37. Clark's steal and layup brings the Fever within 37-36.
Temi Fagbenle with the spin and the reverse 🌀 pic.twitter.com/5mKtDedZSf
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 29, 2024
Halftime: Sparks 37, Fever 32
Caitlin Clark is 3-of-8 from the floor, 2-of-6 on 3s, and 6-of-7 free throws for 14 points. She also has 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocked shots and 3 turnovers.
No other Fever player has more than 1 basket, and Kristy Wallace is 1-of-7 from the floor, and Kelsey Mitchell 1-of-6. They are 29.4% from the field.
Kelsey Mitchell fires away and sinks the triple 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0lw3O3HwHW
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 28, 2024
Aliyah Boston has 3 fouls and 0 points.
Dearica Hamby has 10 points, and Aari McDonald and Rickea Jackson 9 each for L.A., which has more made free throws (13) and field goals (10). The Sparks have committed 10 turnovers.
Catch & shoot. 🔥@iamthathooper x #TheNewClassic pic.twitter.com/Moad0ZElGc
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) May 28, 2024
In terms of local celebrities, Indiana Pacers guards Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard are at the Fever V. Sparks game. As are former Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowlers T.Y. Hilton and Shaq Leonard. @IndyStarSports
— Kyle Smedley (@KyleSmedley_) May 28, 2024
8:49 left 2Q: Caitlin Clark gets hot
She makes 2-of-3 free throws, then a 3-pointer to bring the Fever within 24-20. She has 10 points. Timeout, L.A.
Caitlin Clark getting it done on both ends 💪
She gets the block and knocks down the deep three 💯 pic.twitter.com/ieTPIidkrp— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 28, 2024
End 1Q: Sparks 24, Fever 15
L.A. is 7-of-12 from the field, Indiana 5-of-20. The Sparks are 8-of-9 on free throws, the Fever 3-of-4.
Caitlin Clark picks up a technical foul with 2.1 seconds left. She has 5 points.
Driving Dearica. @dearicamarie x #TheNewClassic pic.twitter.com/ihlMeSEIHY
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) May 28, 2024
Katie Lou Samuelson gets the midrange to fall to cut the Spark's lead down to 4 🙌
📺 LAS-IND on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/tvRoj2djBJ— WNBA (@WNBA) May 28, 2024
3:38 left 1Q: Sparks lead Fever early
Sparks 13, Fever 9
L.A. scores 9 straight and Indiana goes scoreless for almost 4 minutes before a NaLyssa Smith 3-pointer. The Fever are 3-of-14 from the field.
Aliyah Boston picks up 2 fouls in the first 2 ½ minutes. Smith checks in.
Caitlin Clark hits a 3-pointer 1:07 into the game.
Caitlin Clark from downtown 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3zVlRBslO9
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 28, 2024
Fever vs Sparks starting lineups
Fever: Temi Fagbenle, Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, Kristy Wallace, Aliyah Boston. Wallace (knee) missed the previous game, and Fegbenle is making her second straight start. NaLyssa Smith and Katie Lou Samuelson will come off the bench.
Sparks: Lexie Brown, Kia Nurse, Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink, Dearica Hamby. Jackson replaces Layshia Clarendon, who left a game Sunday with a head injury.
Indiana Fever vs Sparks start time, date
7 p.m. ET Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
How to watch Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever vs Los Angeles Sparks
TV: NBA TV
Streaming: Fubo (FREE)
Caitlin Clark stats
Through 7 games: 15.4 points, 6.3 assists, 1.1 steals, 31.6% 3-point shooting.
Get Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever jerseys, gear
Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark jerseys, shirts, sweatshirts, hats from Fanatics can be found here.
Tickets to see Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
Tickets for Fever games are available here.
2024 Fever schedule
This is the Indiana Fever 2024 schedule, with TV info; all times are ET; ^-preseason.
Date, day | place, opponent | Time, TV/results |
May 3, Fri. | at Dallas^ | |
May 9, Thurs. | vs. Atlanta^ | |
May 14, Tues. | at Connecticut | |
May 16, Thurs. | vs. New York | |
May 18, Sat. | at New York | |
May 20, Mon. | vs. Connecticut | |
May 22, Wed. | at Seattle | |
May 24, Fri. | at Los Angeles | |
May 25, Sat. | at Las Vegas | |
May 28, Tues. | vs. Los Angeles | 7 p.m., NBA TV |
May 30, Thurs. | vs. Seattle | 7 p.m., Prime, WTHR |
June 1, Sat. | vs. Chicago* | 1 p.m., NBA TV, WALV |
June 2, Sun. | at New York* | 7 p.m., NBA TV, WALV |
June 7, Fri. | at Washington* | 7:30 p.m., Ion, WTHR |
June 10, Mon. | at Connecticut* | 7 p.m., NBA TV, WTHR |
June 13, Thurs. | vs. Atlanta* | 7 p.m., WTHR |
June 16, Sun. | vs. Chicago | Noon, CBS |
June 19, Wed. | vs. Washington | 7 p.m., NBA TV |
June 21, Fri. | at Atlanta | 7:30 p.m., Ion |
June 23, Sun. | at Chicago | 6 p.m., NBA TV, WALV |
June 27, Thurs. | at Seattle | 10 p.m., Prime, WALV |
June 30, Sun. | at Phoenix | 3 p.m., ESPN |
July 2, Tues. | at Las Vegas | 10 p.m., ESPN |
July 6, Sat. | vs. New York | 1 p.m., CBS |
July 10, Wed. | vs. Washington | Noon, NBA TV, WTHR |
July 12, Fri. | vs. Phoenix | 7:30 p.m., Ion |
July 14, Sun. | at Minnesota | 7 p.m., ESPN |
July 17, Wed. | at Dallas | 8 p.m., ESPN |
Aug. 16, Fri. | vs. Phoenix | 7:30 p.m., Ion |
Aug. 18, Sun. | vs. Seattle | 4 p.m., ABC |
Aug. 24, Sat. | at Minnesota | 8 p.m., NBA TV |
Aug. 26, Mon. | at Atlanta | 7:30 p.m., NBA TV, WTHR |
Aug. 28, Wed. | vs. Connecticut | 7 p.m., NBA TV |
Aug. 30, Fri. | at Chicago | 7:30 p.m., Ion |
Sept. 1, Sun. | at Dallas | 4 p.m., NBA TV |
Sept. 4, Wed. | vs. Los Angeles | 7 p.m., CBS SN, WALV |
Sept. 6, Fri. | vs. Minnesota | 7:30 p.m., Ion |
Sept. 8, Sun. | vs. Atlanta | 4 p.m., WTHR |
Sept. 11, Wed. | vs. Las Vegas | 7 p.m., NBA TV |
Sept. 13, Fri. | vs. Las Vegas | 7:30 p.m., Ion |
Sept. 15, Sun. | vs. Dallas | 3 p.m., WALV |
Sept. 19, Thurs. | at Washington | 7 p.m., Prime, WTHR |
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Caitlin Clark career night can't lift Indiana Fever over L.A. Sparks