INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Fever beat the Aces, 99-89, in Game 2 to force a winner-take-all Game 3 in the first round of the WNBA Playoffs.
Caitlin Clark had 27 points and 15 assists in the win. She also made history, becoming the first player to record a double-double with points and assists in the first half of a WNBA Playoff game. She had 14 points and 11 assists in the first half.
“She was huge,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said. “I thought her energy from start to finish. A double-double in the first half, pretty incredible. The way that she moved the ball and attacked from multiple positions, you always expect her to make shots and to facilitate, but I thought how she managed the game was really good and her defensive energy I thought was terrific. It’s what we need from her, night in and night out. She was the catalyst for us here tonight and I think she’s going to just take it to another level when we got to Game 3.”
It was a must-win game for the Fever, and they showed up. Clark detailed the mentality heading into the game.
“Your back’s up against the wall,” Clark said. “This is the only opportunity you’re guaranteed to have is these 40 minutes and you’re going to go down swinging if you’re going to lose. I think we had the mentality like this is one we’re going to win no matter what. To do it for our fans, be back in front of them, just come out with a fire and a passion about you and I think that’s exactly what we did.”
Kelsey Mitchell (26 points) and Aliyah Boston (22 points) also had big scoring nights for the Fever.
The Fever led 48-43 at halftime.
The winner-take-all Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday in Las Vegas. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m.
