Caitlin Clark buries clutch 31-foot jumper with time running out to give Indiana Fever 78-76 win

It hasn't precisely been the easiest commencement to the 2026 WNBA play for the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark.

After Clark missed astir of 2025, expectations were precocious that she would instrumentality to her rookie play signifier for 2026. But aft a beardown start, it's been undeniably an unusually shaky and inconsistent tally of accumulation for the 24-year-old superstar.

She enactment up much than 20 points successful 5 consecutive games to the commencement the year, but failed to scope that level successful 4 consecutive afterward.

Despite a beardown show against the Golden State Valkyries, putting up 22 points on with 9 assists and 44% shooting from 3-point range, Clark's struggled to support that momentum. She had 5 turnovers successful the rematch with the Valkyries, past conscionable six points against the Portland Fire connected May 30.

CAITLIN CLARK HELD TO JUST SIX POINTS IN FEVER'S BRUTAL BLOWOUT LOSS TO FIRE

Indiana Fever defender Caitlin Clark plays astatine Barclays Center successful Brooklyn, New York, connected June 6, 2026. (Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images)

Saturday's nonaccomplishment to the New York Liberty was a microcosm of Clark's play frankincense far. Just 10 points connected 28.6% from the field, 33.3% from three, 3 turnovers and 5 fouls. Though successful a motion of her quality to lend adjacent erstwhile not astatine her best, she did adhd 9 assists and 7 rebounds.

Entering Monday, she was conscionable 14 for 50 from the level successful the Fever's astir caller games. More surprisingly, she was conscionable 6 of 22 connected 3-point attempts.

With the Fever conscionable 5-5, Monday night's crippled against the Washington Mystics was an important accidental to get backmost connected track. And that's precisely what she did.

CAITLIN CLARK DEFENDS COACH STEPHANIE WHITE AFTER SIDELINE CONFRONTATION SPARKS DEBATE

Clark started retired strong, scoring 10 points successful the archetypal quarter, going 2-5 from three. Coach Stephanie White near her connected the seat for overmuch of the 2nd quarter, however, playing nether 4 minutes total. Though she inactive recovered a mode to impressment with an unthinkable walk to find Myisha Hines-Allen for a layup.

In the 2nd half, however, she showed disconnected immoderate much of her trademark shooting. With 7 minutes near successful the third, Clark made a 25-foot leap shot, each portion Cassandre Prosper interfered with her quality to land. The foul was deemed not to beryllium flagrant, and Clark completed the uncommon four-point play.

Despite the Fever opening up a sizable pb astatine that point, the Mystics battled back, whittling it down to conscionable 2 points halfway done the 4th and 1 constituent with a infinitesimal remaining. Thanks to a escaped shot foul, the Mystics took a one-point lead. But Clark drew interaction successful the lane, giving herself 2 escaped throws to springiness the Fever backmost the lead. She missed both.

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Indiana Fever defender Caitlin Clark looks connected against the Washington Mystics during the archetypal 4th astatine CareFirst Arena successful Washington, D.C., connected June 8, 2026. (Rafael Suanes/Imagn Images)

But again, adjacent portion thing is conscionable a spot disconnected with her shooting, she recovered a mode to contribute. After a Mystics' turnover, Clark recovered Aliyah Boston with a beauteous fractional tribunal walk to marque it 75-74 Fever.

The Mystics came close back, taking the pb 76-75 aft a precocious foul. But then, the dagger. Sophie Cunningham threw a long, transverse tribunal walk to Clark connected an successful bounds play, and she buried a 31-footer to springiness the Fever the win, 78-76.

Indiana Fever defender Caitlin Clark reacts aft making a three-point handbasket against the Washington Mystics during the archetypal 4th astatine CareFirst Arena successful Washington, D.C., connected June 8, 2026. (Rafael Suanes/Imagn Images)

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After the tally of questionable performances, Monday was overmuch person to a instrumentality to signifier for Clark. 19 points connected 7-16 shooting, 4 of 10 from 3, 5 assists and a steal. Including the unthinkable crippled winner.

With the win, the Fever improved to 6-5 up of their adjacent crippled connected Thursday against the Chicago Sky.