In Indianapolis, Caitlin Clark faced the media on Thursday night, analyzing her performance in the Indiana Fever’s 86-84 overtime loss to the Las Vegas Aces. Staring at the statistics, she acknowledged the impact of her eight turnovers and two missed free throws with seven seconds left in regular time. Clark attributed the defeat to her mistakes.
“Obviously, it just can’t happen,” the three-time All-Star confessed. This admission came shortly after she was announced as one of the 12 players for the FIBA Women’s World Cup team. “Those are free throws I usually make and, for sure, that’s on me.”
Even as Clark managed to score 20 points and provide eight assists, her errors overshadowed these achievements. She made two critical 3-pointers late in regulation, yet the game slipped away after the Fever lost an initial 20-point lead. In the final moments of the fourth quarter, they couldn’t hold onto a three-point advantage, and they faltered with a two-point lead at the end of overtime.
Jackie Young capitalized on the situation, scoring a franchise-record 15 consecutive points between the second and third quarters. Later, Chelsea Gray seized her chance, tying the game at 75 with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer following Clark’s missed free throws. Gray then hit another buzzer-beater to clench victory after Clark’s final turnover, prompted by A’ja Wilson.
Clark’s shooting, going 7-for-20 from the field and 2-for-10 on 3-pointers, included more personal fouls than rebounds. Despite these setbacks, she avoided making excuses. “I didn’t even realize we scored nine points in the third quarter, but we fought hard,” Clark remarked. She accepted responsibility for the critical errors. “That’s my job, that’s what I get paid to do,” she admitted.
Yet Clark wasn’t the only player involved in the game’s decisive moments. Kelsey Mitchell, the WNBA Player of the Month for July, missed one of two free throws with 9.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Fever then failed to prevent Gray’s tying 3-pointer.
Coach Stephanie White highlighted the team’s difficulties, noting they lost 18 points due to turnovers. She mentioned Aliyah Boston’s effort and noted a missed opportunity to secure a loose ball. White also recognized her own oversight by not calling a timeout during a crucial moment in overtime, leading to Clark’s turnover.
White offered support, understanding the challenges players face. “They already hate missing free throws or plays,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of maintaining positivity.
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