By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Caitlin Clark showed that she belongs in the top tier list of the WNBA after making history as the first-ever rookie to record a triple-double on July 7, 2024.
This year’s top WNBA pick was in the zone after steering the Indiana Fever to a come-from-behind win against the New York Liberty, 83-78, and helped her squad improve to a 9-13 win-loss record in the Eastern Conference.
Clark’s sensational triple-double performance was made sweeter after Indiana overcame an 11-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter.
After a hot start when Fever outscored New York 24-18 in the first quarter, the more experienced Liberty team countered back in the next two frames and turned the game around with a momentum-clinching 44-31 run.
However, Clark’s all-around performance stole the bright lights in the final 10 minutes of the ball game and sparked Indiana’s game-winning 28-16 scoring run in the fourth.
After the hardly-fought battle against the no. 1 team in the Eastern Conference, Clark registered 19 points, 13 assists, 12 rebounds, and two steals.
Despite only shooting 7/17 from the field, Clark was still able to generate points when she aggressively attacked New York’s basket in the second half while also picking the Liberty defense apart with her great court vision.
Backstopping Clark in the huge win was star center Aliyah Boston who contributed 18 markers, eight boards, two assists, two blocks, and a steal.
With the win, Indiana just re-entered the WNBA winning column after dropping their last game against the Las Vegas Aces with a score of 88-69.
The Fever will now gun for their second straight victory on July 11, 2024, against the struggling Washington Mystics at home.
