INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark posted the first triple-double by a rookie in WNBA history to help rally Indiana to an 83-78 victory over New York on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, snapping the Fever’s nine-game losing streak to the Liberty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clark finished with 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds for Indiana (9-13). The No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft was one rebound shy of a triple-double two games ago in an 88-82 road victory over the Phoenix Mercury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cObviously, it\u2019s really cool,\u201d Clark said. \u201cMy teammates have been finishing the ball really, really at a high rate. My assist numbers … that\u2019s because of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indiana coach Christie Sides was impressed by Clark and the fact that the Fever outscored the Liberty by 12 in the final period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCaitlin with a triple-double, my gosh, that\u2019s incredible,\u201d she said after the game. \u201cHolding New York to 16 points in the fourth quarter, that\u2019s huge for us. That\u2019s the No. 1 team in the league.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clark had 11 points in the first quarter, making 3 of 4 from 3-point range. She topped double figures in assists in the third quarter and passed the 10-rebound mark in the fourth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clark had a three-point play and Kelsey Mitchell followed with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 75 with 2:31 to go. Aliyah Boston scored off a steal by Mitchell to give Indiana a two-point lead and Lexie Hull\u2019s reverse layup increased the lead to 79-75 at the 1:24 mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New York’s Sabrina Ionescu answered with a 3-pointer but missed one the next time down the court with a chance to give the Liberty the lead. Boston made two free throws with 17 seconds left and Mitchell hit two with 11 seconds remaining to wrap up the upset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New York made only 10 of 42 attempts from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe defended well the whole game,\u201d Boston said. \u201cThose last few minutes, especially those last few possessions, were great for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boston scored 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting and had eight rebounds for the Fever. Mitchell scored 14, topping double figures for the ninth-straight game. NaLyssa Smith, the second overall pick in the 2022 draft, added 12 points and 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ionescu scored 22 to lead New York (17-4), which had won five straight games. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton finished with 20 points, making four 3-pointers. Breanna Stewart added 14 points, six rebounds and six assists. Jonquel Jones had 12 rebounds to go with six points and three steals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clark hit a 3-pointer and followed with a layup to spark Indiana to an 8-0 run to begin the game. She turned a steal into a 3-pointer to give the Fever their biggest lead at 24-12 with 3:04 left in the quarter. Laney-Hamilton hit a jumper with two seconds left as New York scored the final six points to get within six heading to the second period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clark’s turnaround fadeaway jumper gave the Fever a 31-20 lead with 7:48 left in the second quarter. Jones scored the final five points in a 12-0 run from there and the Liberty took their first lead. Smith answered with a layup to end a scoring drought that reached 5:06 and Indiana regained the lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stewart, who averaged 22.7 points in three earlier wins this season over the Fever, made two free throws in the final minute to get New York within 39-38 at halftime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Laney-Hamilton hit a go-ahead jumper and Ionescu followed with a basket and a 3-pointer off a steal by Stewart to give New York a 57-50 lead with 4:39 left in the third quarter. Laney-Hamilton hit a pull-up jumper with three seconds left and the Liberty took a 62-55 advantage into the final period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clark noted the Fever are learning not to wilt under pressure when things aren’t going their way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think the biggest difference has been when teams make runs, we don\u2019t crumble,\u201d Clark said. \u201cWe found a way to stay resilient and kind of close the gap.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New York coach Sandy Brondello wasn’t happy with the Liberty’s mindset at the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t think we came out with the necessary urgency to compete. They\u2019re 6-4 in the last 10 games. They executed better than us down the stretch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indiana beat New York for the first time since posting a 92-86 road win on May 13, 2022. The Fever lead the all-time series 50-41.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Liberty: Stay on the road to play the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fever: Will host the Washington Mystics on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n