Caitlin Clark opened the season with the third triple-double of her profession, and the new-look Indiana Fever dominated the ultimate 16:30 Saturday to drag away from the revamped Chicago Sky 93-58.
However the sport was outlined by the most recent chapter within the Clark-Angel Reese rivalry. This time, it got here on a tough foul from Clark throughout Reese’s arm, which jarred the ball free and knocked Reese to the ground with 4:38 left within the third quarter. When Reese jumped as much as confront Clark, Fever middle Aliyah Boston stepped between the 2 gamers as Clark walked away from the skirmish.
The referees upgraded Clark’s foul to a flagrant 1 and assessed technical fouls to Reese and Boston following a replay overview.
Throughout an in-game interview with ESPN, Clark stated there was “nothing malicious” concerning the foul.
“It’s only a good take foul,” Clark stated. “You understand, both Angel will get a large open two factors, or we ship them to the free-throw line. Nothing malicious about it. It is only a good take foul. Each basketball participant is aware of that.”
When Reese missed the primary of two throws, Gainbridge Fieldhouse erupted in cheers. Reese made the second, although, and Courtney Vandersloot made a layup on the following possession to chop the deficit to 56-45. However Indiana closed the third quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 65-45 lead. The Sky by no means actually threatened Indiana’s lead.
Clark, final season’s WNBA Rookie of the Yr, completed with 20 factors, 10 rebounds and 10 assists whereas blocking a career-high 4 pictures.
Boston added 19 factors, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks, whereas Natasha Howard scored 15 factors in her Fever debut.
DeWanna Bonner additionally scored seven factors to maneuver into third on the WNBA’s profession scoring final, passing Tina Thompson. Bonner now has 7,289 factors.
Reese had 12 factors and 17 rebounds for the Sky, who misplaced three of 4 final season to Indiana. Ariel Atkins added 11 factors.
Fever coach Stephanie White earned the primary win of her second teaching tenure in her first sport again within the state the place she gained Indiana’s 1994-95 Miss Basketball Award and led Purdue to the 1998-99 nationwide championship.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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