Caitlin Clark has career-high 31 points, 12 assists as Fever beat Sky 100-81 despite Reese record
CHICAGO (AP) Caitlin Clark had a career-high 31 points and 12 assists in her final regular-season matchup with fellow rookie sensation Angel Reese, leading the Indiana Fever to a dominating 100-81 win over the reeling Chicago Sky on Friday night.
Clark shot 8 for 14, including 5 for 9 from 3-point range, in her 11th double-double. She is the only player to ever have three games of at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in a season.
On the other side, Reese had 10 points and 11 rebounds, breaking a tie with Tina Charles for rookie double-doubles with 23 and passing Sylvia Fowles for the Chicago season record. Reese got the record with 1:32 to play, long after Clark and the other Indiana starters left the game. She also has a rookie record 399 rebounds.
Clark may have slammed the door on the much-hyped Rookie of the Year race as the Fever (16-16) beat the Sky (11-20) for the third time in four matchups, solidifying their probable playoff berth while Chicago is barely hanging on to the last spot as the season winds down.
The the first matchups were decided by a total of 10 points with a pair of one-point wins for each team while this one became a blowout. Indiana had a season-high for points and Chicago allowed a season high.
The game drew a sellout crowd of 9,445 to Wintrust Arena on Barbie Night - a nod to Reese's college nickname at LSU, Bayou Barbie. The crowd included NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O'Neal, as well as Sue Bird - who had her own Barbie doll back in her Seattle Storm playing days - and soccer star Megan Rapinoe.
Kelsey Mitchell added 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, her sixth-straight game of at least 20 points, for the Fever, who are 5-1 since the Olympic break. NaLyssa Smith added 14 points and Lexie Hull had 11.
“I think we just understand each other a lot better,” Clark said of the current stretch. “Having the chemistry and having the time to play with one another you just build confidence. I think you’re seeing that. ... I’m proud of this group. We’re been sharing the ball, we’re taking good shots and that’s helping our transition game and it helps us on defense, too.”
The Fever were outrebounded 42-31 but had 28 points in the paint and shot 48.5% with 26 assists on 32 baskets.
Michaela Onyenwere scored 20 points to lead Chicago, which is 1-5 since the Olympic break. Lindsay Allen had 19 and Rachel Banham 14. The Sky were without Chennedy Carter (17.2 points a game), who missed her second-straight game because of health and safety protocols.
With Allen scoring scoring eight quick points, Chicago scored 11-straight and turned that into a 15-1 run to open a 21-9 lead. But Indiana closed the first quarter on a 12-2 run of its own to trail 26-23. The Sky had four of their season-high nine 3-pointers in the first quarter
“Minus the first six minutes of the game, I thought we were really good. We played sound defense,” Clark said. “I’m just proud of this group. I thought we battled and we didn’t let it get close at the end and that was kind of the problem last time we were here. We let them come back, we know they’re a really good fourth-quarter team, but we battled and figured it out.”
Clark then opened the second quarter with a pair of 3-pointers to put the Fever up. Ultimately their run was 34-12, good for a 10-point lead on Mitchell's 3-pointer. Chicago clawed back to 47-41 at the break, pending a Reese free throw to open the second half as the result of a technical on Aliyah Boston, upset at a no-call, as the half ended.
She made the free throw and it was a five-point game entering the second half.
The Fever got the lead to 11 early in the third quarter but the Sky stayed close until Damiris Dantas hit a 3-pointer and Hull made two free throws after a hustle-play offensive rebound as time expired. It was 76-64 heading into the fourth quarter as Smith had 11 points in the third.
The lead reached 27 before Chicago closed with a 10-2 run.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 |  | Start of the 1st Quarter | ||
| 10:00 | | Jump Ball: Aliyah Boston vs. Kamilla Cardoso. | ||
| 9:46 |  | +2 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a layup. Aliyah Boston with the assist. | 2-0 |
| 9:31 | | +2 | Lindsay Allen makes a jump shot from 7 feet out. Rachel Banham with the assist. | 2-2 |
| 9:22 | | +2 | NaLyssa Smith makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 4-2 |
| 9:02 | | +2 | Kamilla Cardoso makes a layup. Rachel Banham with the assist. | 4-4 |
| 8:49 | | Caitlin Clark misses a jump shot from 10 feet out. | ||
| 8:49 | | Angel Reese with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:38 | | Aliyah Boston steals the ball from Angel Reese. | ||
| 8:30 | | Shooting foul committed by Michaela Onyenwere. | ||
| 8:30 | | NaLyssa Smith misses free throw 1 of 2. | ||
| 8:30 | | Fever with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 8:30 | | +1 | NaLyssa Smith makes free throw 2 of 2. | 5-4 |
| 8:22 | | Personal foul committed by NaLyssa Smith. | ||
| 8:16 | | +2 | Michaela Onyenwere makes a jump shot from 8 feet out. | 5-6 |
| 8:01 | | +3 | Caitlin Clark makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | 8-6 |
| 7:50 | | Personal foul committed by Caitlin Clark. | ||
| 7:43 | | Kamilla Cardoso misses a layup. | ||
| 7:43 | | Sky with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:40 | | Michaela Onyenwere misses a layup. | ||
| 7:40 | | Kamilla Cardoso with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:33 | | +3 | Lindsay Allen makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Kamilla Cardoso with the assist. | 8-9 |
| 7:09 | | Angel Reese steals the ball from NaLyssa Smith. | ||
| 7:05 | | +3 | Lindsay Allen makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Angel Reese with the assist. | 8-12 |
| 6:49 | | Kelsey Mitchell misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 6:49 | | Rachel Banham with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:39 | | +2 | Lindsay Allen makes a jump shot from 17 feet out. | 8-14 |
| 6:28 | | Aliyah Boston misses a jump shot from 14 feet out. | ||
| 6:28 | | Aliyah Boston with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 6:26 | | Aliyah Boston misses a layup. | ||
| 6:26 | | Sky with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:11 | | +3 | Michaela Onyenwere makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Kamilla Cardoso with the assist. | 8-17 |
| 5:45 | | Caitlin Clark misses a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. | ||
| 5:45 | | Angel Reese with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:34 | | Lindsay Allen misses a jump shot from 8 feet out. | ||
| 5:34 | | NaLyssa Smith with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:24 | | Shooting foul committed by Angel Reese. | ||
| 5:24 | | +1 | Aliyah Boston makes free throw 1 of 2. | 9-17 |
| 5:24 | | Aliyah Boston misses free throw 2 of 2. | ||
| 5:24 | | Angel Reese with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:05 | | +2 | Angel Reese makes a layup. Lindsay Allen with the assist. | 9-19 |
| 4:45 | | NaLyssa Smith misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 4:45 | | Rachel Banham with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:37 | | +2 | Michaela Onyenwere makes a layup. Lindsay Allen with the assist. | 9-21 |
| 4:35 | | Fever take a full timeout. | ||
| 4:35 | | Substitution: Temi Fagbenle in for NaLyssa Smith. | ||
| 4:24 | | +2 | Caitlin Clark makes a layup. | 11-21 |
| 4:18 | | +3 | Rachel Banham makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Lindsay Allen with the assist. | 11-24 |
| 4:11 | | +2 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 13-24 |
| 4:11 | | Shooting foul committed by Rachel Banham. | ||
| 4:11 | | +1 | Kelsey Mitchell makes free throw 1 of 1. | 14-24 |
| 3:54 | | Michaela Onyenwere misses a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | ||
| 3:54 | | Kamilla Cardoso with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 3:45 | | Rachel Banham misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | ||
| 3:45 | | Michaela Onyenwere with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 3:39 | | Angel Reese misses a layup. | ||
| 3:39 | | Kamilla Cardoso with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 3:34 | | Rachel Banham misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | ||
| 3:34 | | Fever with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:17 | | +3 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. Aliyah Boston with the assist. | 17-24 |
| 3:03 | | Lindsay Allen misses a layup. | ||
| 3:03 | | Lindsay Allen with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 3:00 | | Shooting foul committed by Aliyah Boston. | ||
| 3:00 | | +1 | Lindsay Allen makes free throw 1 of 2. | 17-25 |
| 3:00 | | Substitution: Diamond DeShields in for Rachel Banham. | ||
| 3:00 | | Substitution: Dana Evans in for Michaela Onyenwere. | ||
| 3:00 | | +1 | Lindsay Allen makes free throw 2 of 2. | 17-26 |
| 2:49 | | Kelsey Mitchell misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | ||
| 2:49 | | Lindsay Allen with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:33 | | Diamond DeShields misses a jump shot from 20 feet out. | ||
| 2:33 | | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:21 | | +3 | Lexie Hull makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Aliyah Boston with the assist. | 20-26 |
| 2:01 | | Dana Evans misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | ||
| 2:01 | | Lexie Hull with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:41 | | Kelsey Mitchell misses a layup. | ||
| 1:41 | | Kamilla Cardoso with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:30 | | Temi Fagbenle steals the ball from Lindsay Allen. | ||
| 1:27 | | +2 | Temi Fagbenle makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 22-26 |
| 1:27 | | Shooting foul committed by Kamilla Cardoso. | ||
| 1:27 | | Substitution: Moriah Jefferson in for Lindsay Allen. | ||
| 1:27 | | +1 | Temi Fagbenle makes free throw 1 of 1. | 23-26 |
| 1:02 | | Diamond DeShields misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | ||
| 1:02 | | Sky with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 1:01 | | Sky with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | ||
| 43.5 | | Kelsey Mitchell with a turnover - Stepped Out of Bounds | ||
| 16.3 | | Aliyah Boston blocks a Kamilla Cardoso jump shot from 11 feet out. | ||
| 16.3 | | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 01.7 | | Temi Fagbenle misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | ||
| 01.7 | | Diamond DeShields with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 0.0 | | End of the 1st Quarter |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | | Start of the 2nd Quarter | ||
| 9:43 | | Caitlin Clark steals the ball from Diamond DeShields. | ||
| 9:40 | | Offensive foul committed by Temi Fagbenle. | ||
| 9:40 | | Temi Fagbenle with a turnover | ||
| 9:28 | | Personal foul committed by Kelsey Mitchell. | ||
| 9:20 | | Isabelle Harrison misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 9:20 | | Moriah Jefferson with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 9:16 | | Moriah Jefferson misses a jump shot from 15 feet out. | ||
| 9:16 | | Angel Reese with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 9:12 | | Angel Reese misses a layup. | ||
| 9:12 | | Moriah Jefferson with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 9:06 | | Moriah Jefferson misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 9:06 | | Temi Fagbenle with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:46 | | +3 | Caitlin Clark makes a 3-point jump shot from 31 feet out. Erica Wheeler with the assist. | 26-26 |
| 8:32 | | Angel Reese with a turnover - Traveling | ||
| 8:19 | | +3 | Caitlin Clark makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Damiris Dantas with the assist. | 29-26 |
| 7:57 | | +2 | Dana Evans makes a layup. Isabelle Harrison with the assist. | 29-28 |
| 7:45 | | Diamond DeShields steals the ball from Temi Fagbenle. | ||
| 7:32 | | Temi Fagbenle blocks a Diamond DeShields jump shot from 4 feet out. | ||
| 7:32 | | Damiris Dantas with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:28 | | +2 | Erica Wheeler makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 31-28 |
| 7:28 | | Damiris Dantas blocks a Isabelle Harrison layup. | ||
| 7:28 | | Sky with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:28 | | Substitution: Lindsay Allen in for Diamond DeShields. | ||
| 7:28 | | Substitution: Michaela Onyenwere in for Moriah Jefferson. | ||
| 7:22 | | +2 | Michaela Onyenwere makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. Lindsay Allen with the assist. | 31-30 |
| 7:12 | | Caitlin Clark misses a 3-point jump shot from 32 feet out. | ||
| 7:12 | | Lindsay Allen with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:51 | | Shooting foul committed by Temi Fagbenle. | ||
| 6:51 | | Michaela Onyenwere misses free throw 1 of 2. | ||
| 6:51 | | Sky with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 6:51 | | Substitution: Kamilla Cardoso in for Angel Reese. | ||
| 6:51 | | +1 | Michaela Onyenwere makes free throw 2 of 2. | 31-31 |
| 6:34 | | +2 | Damiris Dantas makes a jump shot from 15 feet out. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 33-31 |
| 6:20 | | +2 | Michaela Onyenwere makes a jump shot from 6 feet out. Isabelle Harrison with the assist. | 33-33 |
| 6:09 | | +2 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 35-33 |
| 5:53 | | Isabelle Harrison misses a jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 5:53 | | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:47 | | Personal foul committed by Isabelle Harrison. | ||
| 5:47 | | Official's timeout. | ||
| 5:47 | | Substitution: NaLyssa Smith in for Temi Fagbenle. | ||
| 5:42 | | +2 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a jump shot from 23 feet out. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 37-33 |
| 5:15 | | Dana Evans misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 5:15 | | Kelsey Mitchell with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:09 | | Kelsey Mitchell with a turnover - Bad Pass | ||
| 4:50 | | Dana Evans misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 4:50 | | NaLyssa Smith with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:29 | | Erica Wheeler misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | ||
| 4:29 | | Erica Wheeler with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 4:24 | | +3 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Erica Wheeler with the assist. | 40-33 |
| 4:22 | | Sky take a full timeout. | ||
| 4:22 | | Substitution: Angel Reese in for Dana Evans. | ||
| 4:22 | | Substitution: Rachel Banham in for Isabelle Harrison. | ||
| 4:22 | | Substitution: Lexie Hull in for Caitlin Clark. | ||
| 4:22 | | Rachel Banham misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | ||
| 4:22 | | NaLyssa Smith with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:22 | | Lindsay Allen steals the ball from NaLyssa Smith. | ||
| 4:12 | | Lindsay Allen misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | ||
| 4:12 | | NaLyssa Smith with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:48 | | +3 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Erica Wheeler with the assist. | 43-33 |
| 3:33 | | Personal foul committed by Kelsey Mitchell. | ||
| 3:20 | | Angel Reese misses a jump shot from 22 feet out. | ||
| 3:20 | | NaLyssa Smith with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:03 | | Damiris Dantas misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 3:03 | | Sky with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:00 | | Personal foul committed by NaLyssa Smith. | ||
| 3:00 | | Substitution: Caitlin Clark in for Kelsey Mitchell. | ||
| 3:00 | | Substitution: Aliyah Boston in for Damiris Dantas. | ||
| 2:38 | | Erica Wheeler blocks a Michaela Onyenwere layup. | ||
| 2:38 | | Michaela Onyenwere with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 2:34 | | +3 | Rachel Banham makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Michaela Onyenwere with the assist. | 43-36 |
| 2:28 | | +2 | Caitlin Clark makes a layup. | 45-36 |
| 2:28 | | Shooting foul committed by Michaela Onyenwere. | ||
| 2:28 | | Caitlin Clark misses free throw 1 of 1. | ||
| 2:28 | | Kamilla Cardoso with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:16 | | +2 | Lindsay Allen makes a jump shot from 10 feet out. | 45-38 |
| 2:08 | | Lexie Hull misses a layup. | ||
| 2:08 | | Angel Reese with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:58 | | Rachel Banham misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 1:58 | | Erica Wheeler with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:51 | | Rachel Banham steals the ball from Caitlin Clark. | ||
| 1:32 | | Rachel Banham misses a jump shot from 20 feet out. | ||
| 1:32 | | Aliyah Boston with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:16 | | Erica Wheeler misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 1:16 | | Kamilla Cardoso with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:02 | | +2 | Angel Reese makes a jump shot from 21 feet out. Lindsay Allen with the assist. | 45-40 |
| 53.9 | | Rachel Banham steals the ball from Caitlin Clark. | ||
| 46.6 | | Erica Wheeler steals the ball from Lindsay Allen. | ||
| 42.6 | | +2 | Caitlin Clark makes a layup. Aliyah Boston with the assist. | 47-40 |
| 24.1 | | Personal foul committed by Caitlin Clark. | ||
| 24.1 | | +1 | Lindsay Allen makes free throw 1 of 2. | 47-41 |
| 24.1 | | Substitution: Kelsey Mitchell in for Erica Wheeler. | ||
| 24.1 | | +1 | Lindsay Allen makes free throw 2 of 2. | 47-42 |
| 03.1 | | Aliyah Boston misses a layup. | ||
| 03.1 | | Angel Reese with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 0.0 | | End of the 2nd Quarter | ||
| 4:12 | | Lindsay Allen misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | ||
| 3:00 | | Substitution: Caitlin Clark in for Kelsey Mitchell. |