Caitlin Clarkdelivered another remarkable performance to lead the Indiana Fever to a 95-91 overtime victory against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday. She finished with 26 points, three rebounds and nine assists in nearly 41 minutes of action.
The three-time All-Star stepped up big time for Indiana in the third quarter. When the rest of the team struggled to score, she carried the offensive load and scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting to keep the Fever in the fight.
However, her offense wasn't the only noteworthy aspect of her performance on Sunday. Head coach Stephanie White also made sure to praise Clark's defensive showing during the contest.
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
"CC, what the [expletive]," White exclaimed in her locker room speech, with Clark all smiles as her coach showered her with praise. "That defense was outstanding."
Clark didn't register a steal or block in the win, but she made sure she wasn't exploited defensively by the Dream. The 24-year-old guard also worked hard to stay with her mark and make it difficult for Atlanta to score.
In fact, one of the key moments of the game came with under a minute left in the fourth quarter and the score tied at 81-81. Allisha Gray tried to score over Clark, but the Fever playmaker stayed with her and forced her to take a turnaround jumper that missed.
Defense has been one of the Fever's biggest weaknesses. They rank 11th in defensive rating in the WNBA, which is the worst among the current top eight teams in the league.
Sure enough, Clark's improvement in that area is a positive sign for the Fever, especially with the playoffs approaching.
