Another unfortunate night for Dallas is featured on this countdown.
The Wings were well out of playoff contention, a 9-29 record heading in, and at this point the Fever had punched their ticket. This game did not really mean for Dallas, but Indiana could clinch the 6-seed in the WNBA playoffs with a win.
But even though the Wings had nothing to play for, it was one of the most entertaining games of the WNBA season.
Clark was nearing the end of a brutal race for WNBA Rookie of the Year. She was in full swing heading into the playoffs-- she filled up the stat sheet in the month of September, recording her second triple-double and narrowly missing her third. With Chicago's Angel Reese continuing to put up double-doubles, Clark needed a big game to seal the deal.
She'd get it that night.
The Fever struggled to stop Dallas from getting the ball inside, falling behind 21-10 early on in the first quarter. With three minutes to go in the first, head coach Christie Sides opted to sit Clark for the remainder of the quarter. Clark had gotten a three-pointer to go early on, but the Fever were just hanging around with the Wings setting the pace.
Part of the problem was the fact that Dallas' Jacy Sheldon was hounding Clark from baseline to baseline. Sheldon was not making things easy for Clark, but the second quarter would include some adjustments.
Clark started the quarter at shooting guard, with primary ball handling responsibilities pawned off onto Erica Wheeler. Clark started moving differently off-ball, much like how Steph Curry moves with the Warriors. Clark's first shot attempt came off of a series off screens, two interior and one after a change in direction to set Clark up wide open at the top of the key. She drained it, and cut the Wings lead to five.
The next time down the court, Clark was able to get open from deep three-point range again. She was fouled, and hit all three free throws.
This game seemed like Caitlin Clark's "all-grown-up" game. She did not force shots, she moved well off-ball, she used her three-point ability to open up lanes inside. She drove and kicked. She had her fingerprints on almost every possession-- and the Fever started to turn the tide as a result.
As the two teams got set for the second half, Dallas held onto a 59-57 lead. Clark and Kelsey Mitchell both had 15 points apiece, and they would start heating up. Mitchell would score seven of the Fever's first nine points of the third quarter before the rest of the team got involved. NaLyssa Smith, Aliyah Boston, and Lexie Hull all made contributions on both sides of the ball.
But meanwhile for Dallas, Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally were heating up. Both Wings stars were hitting tough shot after tough shot, and Indiana could not shake them.
Clark then proceeded to score 20 second half points to help ice the victory. She went 10-of-22 from the floor, including six three-pointers, and Indiana clinched the 6-seed.
Clark had a shaky start to the season. Turnovers and forced shots muddied what were otherwise great outings throughout the year.
The finish, however, was the promise of what's to come from this young superstar.