Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
It took six games for the Indiana Fever to get its first win of the 2024 WNBA season.
In a matchup between the two top picks in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Caitlin Clark’s Fever outlasted Cameron Brink’s Los Angeles Sparks 76-71 to claim the first win of the season.
Indiana Fever @IndianaFever
FOUND A SPARK 🔥#FeverWin pic.twitter.com/OEIv5ojFOE
Indiana Fever @IndianaFever
FEVER WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/xnmSDAQvv1
Early on in the matchup, it looked like the Fever were destined to fall to 0-6.
The Sparks led 22-15 after the opening quarter and grew to lead 55-34 at halftime. However, this is where Indiana took over, outscoring Los Angeles 19-11 in the third quarter and 19-10 in the fourth quarter to steal the victory.
Aliyah Boston led Indiana with 17 points, adding six rebounds and two assists. Kelsey Mitchell had 16 points and Temi Fagbenlie had 17 points, six rebounds and three assists off of the bench.
The Sparks were led by Dearica Hamby, who had 16 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, and Rickea Johnson had a significant bench contribution with 16 points.
Still, the main attraction was the first professional matchup between Brink and Clark. Brink was a main factor for the Sparks, scoring 15 points while grabbing nine rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Early on, her night looked better than Clark’s as the latter had just five points late in the third quarter. Clark started the night 0-of-7 from three-point range, but two late threes helped seal the victory and correct the shooting woes. She finished with a strong all-around performance with 11 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
Fans took to social media to praise Clark’s impact in different areas of the game and congratulate her on her first career victory in The W:
Ophelia M. Byers (she/her) @iamopheliabyers
Congratulations to rookie Caitlin Clark on her first #WNBA win!
Nice job by Indiana Fever and a special salute to Aliyah Boston!
I hope Fever and Caitlin fans can exhale.
Paritosh Bhide @paritosh_bhide
Caitlin Clark has arrived wowzers
#MoneyMillz @Kingmoneymillz1
MITCHELL AND CAITLIN CLARK WILL BE A PROBLEM IN THE WNBA THEY REMIND ME OF LUKA AND KYRIE
Chad Frickey @Chadillionaire
Caitlin Clark’s passing is unreal. #wnba @IndianaFever
Chris @Chris_ApTx
Caitlin Clark passing pic.twitter.com/GMvwhs4KK4
Jessica @Jessmat25
These Caitlin Clark passes are a thing of beauty. #wnba
🚩 @redcolormoney
Caitlin Clark is showing Kobe mentality how she sticks to her plan this is HERSTORY 🐐🔥 MY GOAT
Tre @_UnoDosTRE
Caitlin Clark and Indiana hungry
Danny from Paramore. | Paige Bueckers is my 🐐 @DannyHikari
If you can get efficient nights from Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell simultaneously, Fever are fine.
Once again I’m saying, it will come with time, experience, patience, synergy building, and a few more pieces to the puzzle. To Fever fans, trust the process.
Alfreddie Jones Jr @coachfreddie3
Keep your head up Caitlin Clark and keep firing. I’m never going to stop believing in you!
E J 🏀 @EJayArrow
Caitlin Clark is proving tonight that she doesn’t necessarily have to be a high volume scorer to be effective. She makes an impact in other ways.
Rebounding from the guard spot & dishing dimes. She also has the defense’s full attn when she catches the ball, which frees up others
Sgt. Browns Lonely Hearts Club Band 🎡 @LetItBeCLE
This might be the worst shooting performance Caitlin Clark has for the rest of her career
And she still can potentially get a double double, maybe even a triple double if she gets more assists, basketball is a crazy game
YeaImStacie on YOUTUBE! @YeaImStacie
Good game for the Fever getting their 1st win. Aliyah Boston Carried Early, Kelsey Mitchell Cooked in the 4th. Caitlin Clark was Resilient and closed them out. Team win.
🃏 @HoodieHenn
Finally got that 1st dub
11 points
10 rebounds
8 assist
4 steals
1 block
Caitlin Clark pic.twitter.com/keiyE8HPA4
Dexter Henry @DHenryTV
Great 1st win for the Fever this season. Aaliyah Boston was impressive as well as Caitlin Clark who impacted the game in other ways despite a rough shooting night!
Rich @Rich091385Kelly
Caitlin Clark gets her first win! You can tell she is starting to feel more comfortable each game.
LaxxAxal @Jahweeb
Caitlin clark was in the trenches getting boards and finding her teammates as the double team came, and in the 4th came up clutch with dagger logo threes. AND HER FIRST W!!!
The Fever improve to 1-5 on the season and appear to have a winning formula in the works.
While Clark had some shooting struggles, finishing 2-of-9 from three-point range and 4-of-14 overall, her clutch ending as well as impacting the game all over the court showed the role she can play on any given day.
Additionally, four Fever players scored in double figures, showcasing some depth scoring that could pay dividends for the rebuilding team.
The next test for Indiana will be even tougher, however, as the Fever travel to Las Vegas to take on the two-time defending champion Aces Saturday at 9 p.m. ET.
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