Caitlin Clark erupts for 32 points in injury return as Fever hand Liberty first loss of season
Caitlin Clark and the Liberty handed the Fever their first loss of the season.
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INDIANAPOLIS — Fever coach Stephanie White offered some advice to Caitlin Clark ahead of the superstar's return Saturday after a quad injury sidelined her for three weeks.
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It was something along the lines of, 'Give yourself grace. … It might take some time to find your groove.'
White must've forgotten who she was talking to.
Saturday may have been the first time in Clark's college and young professional career that she came back from an injury absence, but she looked like she was in midseason form as she helped the Fever beat the Liberty 102-88, snapping the defending champion's nine-game winning streak to open the season.
Clark settled into the game almost immediately, scoring 25 first-half points. At one point in the third quarter, she drained 3s on three consecutive possessions.
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She launched the ball from 34 feet on her first one, and drained the next over Marine Johannès. Clark then sank the game-tying basket, firing from 31 feet.
'It felt good,' Clark said. 'I saw three in a row go in, so that gives you a lot of confidence.'
Clark is not a player who needs any extra confidence boost.
She smiled, yelled and flexed her muscles. A behind-the-back pass to Aliyah Boston and the way she repeatedly threaded the needle drew oohs and aahs from the crowd.
Caitlin Clark reacts during the Fever's 102-88 win over the previously unbeaten Liberty on June 14, 2025. Imagn Images
After Clark sank her fifth 3 in the first half, all Breanna Stewart could do was laugh.
Clark — one of the WNBA's greatest entertainers — was back, and it was like a tsunami of electricity jolted the Fever back to life.
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Saturday was the Fever's best 3-point shooting outing this season.
They went 17-for-35 (48.6 percent) from deep, with Clark leading the barrage by knocking in seven of her 14 attempts.
Caitlin Clark attempts a shot during the Fever's win over the Liberty. Imagn Images
Clark finished with 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds and received her first technical foul of the season for arguing with an official in the second quarter.
Based on how aggressive she was from the jump, it was clear Clark was on a mission.
Some of that drive may have stemmed from what happened the last time the Liberty played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Fever squandered a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter and fell by two points. Clark was stopped on the final play by Natasha Cloud.
Breanna Stewart tries to control the ball during the Liberty's
loss June 14. NBAE via Getty Images
Some controversy was stirred up postgame, with the Fever saying Clark was fouled.
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Cloud, though, said it was all ball.
When the previous meeting's ending was brought up before Saturday's game, Clark briefly smiled.
'It's another really good opportunity for us to come out here and prove we belong with the best,' Clark said. 'This is the reigning champs, and this is the standard in the league. Everyone knows that they're really good.'
The Fever showed everyone how good they can be with a healthy Clark.
Indiana also welcomed back Sophie Cunningham, who had missed a few games with an ankle injury.
Still, the Fever aren't quite at full strength, with DeWanna Bonner away from the team for an undisclosed personal reason.
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It didn't matter Saturday, though.
Sabrina Ionescu attempts a shot during the Liberty's loss to
the Fever. Getty Images
The Fever had plenty of offensive firepower between Clark, Kelsey Mitchell (22 points) and Lexie Hull (14).
Sabrina Ionescu was brilliant in the first half for the Liberty. She scored 27 of her season-high 34 points in the first two quarters and drilled three 3-pointers, including a deep one at the half that trimmed the Fever's lead to 3.
The Liberty — who were without starters Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebich — trailed at halftime for the first time this season.
Breanna Stewart (l.) and Sabrina Ionescu (r.) react during the
Liberty's loss to the Fever on June 14. NBAE via Getty Images
The Liberty started to take control of the game with a 9-0 start to the second half. But the Fever punched back.
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Clark scored or assisted on 17 of the Fever's 19 points during the Liberty's nearly four-minute scoring drought in the third quarter.
The Liberty got within three points in the fourth quarter, but it became clear the Fever weren't going to blow the game this time as they closed strong, outscoring the Liberty 17-6 over the last 5:48.
Caitlin Clark celebrates during the Fever's victory over the Liberty. NBAE via Getty Images
'We stuck together, we went on our own run,' Clark said. 'Just proud of everybody. … People made really big plays down the stretch.'
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