Fever defeats Mystics with to a last-second 3-pointer from Caitlin Clark
With the game on the line, Caitlin Clark was by herself with the ball in front of the logo.
This was Clark's comfort zone, and the shot hit nothing but net, despite how stressful this season has occasionally been for her and the Indiana Fever.
After a difficult period at the beginning of her third season, Clark's 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left gave Indiana a 78-76 victory over the Washington Mystics that evening. It also provided the 24-year-old standout a hallmark moment.Great athletes and generational skill are sometimes taken for granted, according to Indiana coach Stephanie White. "What she accomplished for us was amazing. There will be many more instances like that for her. I'm certain she is. And tonight, we needed this one."
At the start of the game, Indiana was just 5-5. Despite being the focus of constant internet discussion and having to answer for a combative sideline exchange with White, Clark was filling up the stat sheet but had not been shooting the ball well.
However, she added to yet another thrilling environment in front of a full house at Washington's CareFirst Arena. White was asked if the "noise" surrounding Clark might be reduced by this game-winning three, but it might not be feasible.
"I don't know that the noise is ever going to be quiet," White replied. "Caitlin does this. She has huge moments and makes big shots.
Foul problems briefly derailed Clark after he scored ten points in the opening quarter. Indiana's advantage increased to 17 after her four-point play in the third quarter, but the Mystics came back.
With 36 seconds remaining and the Fever trailing by one, Clark missed two consecutive free throws. However, Washington turned the ball over before another round of debate could begin, and Clark patiently found Kelsey Mitchell in transition for a layup to give the Fever the lead.
Then Sonia Citron made two free throws with 4.3 seconds to play, putting the Mystics up 76-75. Indiana called timeout, and Sophie Cunningham's inbounds pass sailed across the court toward Clark, who was all alone after Washington's Cotie McMahon tried for the steal and missed. It was perhaps the biggest shot of her WNBA career.
"You better make this," Clark said she was thinking at the time. "Because I missed my free throws. All those plays are plays we work on after practice, so everybody knows their role, everybody knows what they're going to do.
"Cotie almost got a fingertip on it," Clark added. "It kind of worked out perfectly that she went for the steal. Honestly, probably the most wide-open shot I had all night. My hands got a little clammy, but still went in, I guess."
Teammate Lexie Hull was in the opposite corner, pretty open in her own right, but it was no surprise the ball went to Clark.
"From my view, I thought Cotie was going to get it," Hull said. "Then it slipped through, and still holding my breath. I have complete confidence that it's going to go in, but to see it go in and put us in the lead, that was one of the biggest moments we've had this season, so very excited.
"And just for Caitlin, very happy to see it go through for her."
It was Clark's second career game-tying or go-ahead field goal inside the final five seconds of a game, the other coming against the Mystics earlier this season. Her 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left forced overtime last month, but Washington went on to win 104-102.
