Caitlin Clark delivered the first 40-point, 10-assist performance in WNBA history as the Indiana Fever defeated the Seattle Storm 110-107 on Friday night in Indianapolis.
On top of her career-high 45 points, Clark set career bests in free throws made (17) and attempted (19) in 29 minutes of playing time as she remains on a minutes restriction. With 10 assists, she recorded her fifth double-double of the season, with her last coming over a month ago on June 16.
With the game tied at 102 with under a minute to go in the fourth quarter, Clark blocked Flau’jae Johnson’s driving layup going to the rim. On the next offensive possession, she hit her sixth and final 3-pointer of the evening to put the Fever (15-10) ahead for good at 105-102.
Natisha Hiedeman had a chance to tie the game at the end of regulation for Seattle, but her halfcourt 3-point attempt was off-target.
Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell tied her season high in points with 30. It was her third 30-point game of the season. Monique Billings scored a season-high 16 points for Indiana.
Dominique Malonga scored 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for Seattle (6-21) for her third consecutive double-double.
All five starters scored in double figures for the Storm, who saw their losing streak extended to four games. Awa Fam scored 14 of her 16 points after halftime and grabbed nine rebounds along with two blocks. Johnson also scored 16, while Hiedeman and Jade Melbourne scored 15 apiece.
Indiana jumped out to an early double-digit lead thanks to the efforts of Mitchell, who racked up a career-high 17 first-quarter points as Indiana led 37-26 after the first. The Fever amassed their biggest lead of the game at 49-32 on a long-range Clark 3-pointer early in the second quarter.
The Storm were able to start cutting into the deficit by going on a 21-7 run to trim the lead down to three points at halftime.
Seattle regained the lead for the first time since the opening minutes on a driving layup by Johnson, which put the Storm ahead 80-79 with 2:48 left in the third quarter.
With All-Star Fever center Aliyah Boston sidelined with a right leg injury, Seattle was able to take advantage on the inside. Seattle outscored the Fever 66-44 in the paint.
–Field Level Media
