Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever played the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis in a nationally televised game that came down to the final moments.
The Fever have started the season 2-1, following an 81-76 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Thursday. Clark had 11 points, six assists and four rebounds in the victory. But she went 0-for-5 from the 3-point line, ending her streak of 140 games (counting WNBA and college) with at least one 3-pointer. The Fever ultimately lost Saturday’s game to the Liberty, 90-88.
Here’s how it all went down between the Fever and Liberty on Saturday with final score and highlights:
New York vs. Indiana final: Liberty 90, Fever 88
Jonquel Jones scored 26 points and Sabrina Ionescu added 23, including the game-winning free throws with 2.2 seconds left, leading four players in double figures as the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty stormed back from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Indiana Fever 90-88 on Saturday.
The Fever had a chance at a game-winning play but did not get a shot attempt off.
Jones hit 9-15 from the field and also had 12 rebounds.
Fever guard Caitlin Clark overcame her first-half struggles to score 18 points after missing her first six three-point shots before drilling one with 1:04 left in the third quarter while getting fouled and hitting another long jumper from downtown to beat the buzzer, sending the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd, which included Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle and guard Tyrese Haliburton, into a frenzy. The reigning WNBA rookie of the year also added 10 assists and five rebounds, but also turned the ball over 10 times.
The Fever (2-2) took control in the third, outscoring the Liberty 30-13, while the Liberty went ice cold after shooting 64% from the field in the first half.
Indiana led by double digits before New York started to chip away in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to one with 13-2 run capped by a Jones 3-pointer with 5:34 left.
Aliyah Boston had 27 points and 12 rebounds, while Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull, who got her first start of the season, each scored 15 points for Indiana and trailed by 15 in the first half.
New York vs. Indiana score 3rd quarter: Fever 76, Liberty 68
The Fever used a strong third quarter 12-4 run to cut the Liberty’s halftime lead, outscoring the Liberty 30-13 in the third while Caitlin Clark (16 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 8 turnovers) came alive after struggling on the offensive end as she missed her last 12 three-point attempts, before hitting a stepback three-pointer with 1:04 left while getting fouled and hitting another long jumper from downtown to beat the buzzer. Aliyah Boston is pacing the Fever with 23 points on 11-12 from the field and Kelsey Mitchell added nine in the quarter. Sabrina Ionescu has 19 points, even as the Liberty went cold in the third quarter, while Indiana is shooting 54%.
New York vs. Indiana score halftime: Liberty 55, Fever 46
The defending champions used an 18-1 run in the second quarter to take control of the game, building a 15-point lead, while continuing their torrid shooting start, hitting 64% from the field. Sabrina Ionescu led four New York players in double figures with 15 points. Breanna Stewart added 12 points, with Jonquel Jones and Natasha Cloud each adding 10 points.
Aliyah Boston had 17 points and five rebounds for Indiana, and Caitlin Clark has seven points, eight assists, and six turnovers but went 0-5 from the 3-point line after missing all five from the 3-point line in Thursday’s victory against Atlanta.
New York vs. Indiana score Q1: Liberty 30, Fever 29
For two teams that like to shoot from the outside, the first quarter mostly had the Fever and Liberty scoring from the inside. Breanna Stewart had 10 points for New York, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu added eight points each and Aliyah Boston did her work in the paint with 10 points, while Caitlin Clark scored seven points, to go along with six assists, but also has turned the ball over four times. The Fever scored 20 of its 29 points in the paint, while shooting 71% from the field.
New York shot 64% in the quarter and hit two of its five three-point attempts after making 19 3’s, setting a WNBA single game regular season record, in their last game against the Chicago Sky. Starters from both teams, Caitlin Clark, Natasha Howard, Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull for Indiana and New York’s Leonie Fiebich, each committed two fouls in the first quarter
Pacers Tyrese Haliburton courtside watching Caitlin Clark, Fever
The Pacers guard made an appearance at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse to cheer on the Fever after Indiana took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks on Friday. Haliburton had 14 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in the 114-109 victory.
How to watch Fever vs. Liberty game: TV, stream
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
TV: CBS
Stream: Paramount+, Fubo (free trial)
Fever vs. Liberty starting lineups
Indiana Fever
G -Caitlin Clark
G -Kelsey Mitchell
G – Lexie Hull
F – Natasha Howard
C – Aliyah Boston
New York Liberty
G – Natasha Cloud
G – Sabrina Ionescu
F – Leonie Fiebich
F – Breanna Stewart
F – Jonquel Jones
What time is Fever vs. Liberty?
The Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty game will tip off at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 24, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Watch Fever vs. Liberty on Fubo (free trial)
Fever vs. Liberty odds:
The New York Liberty are favored to beat the Indiana Fever, according to BetMGM.
Odds as of Saturday, May 24.
Spread: Liberty (-3.5)
Moneyline: Liberty (-185), Fever (+150)
Over/under: 173.5
Liberty vs. Fever predictions:
DraftKings Network: New York Liberty to win
Charlie Cummings writes, ‘Ultimately, the Liberty’s overwhelming defense and the star power of Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones will overtake this Indiana squad. There’s only so much you can do against a team this good.’
CBS Sports: New York Liberty -4 (-110)
Ryan Wooden writes, ‘The Fever have shown improvement early in the season and have home court, but Wetzel believes New York is still a cut above after it beat the Aces and the Sky by a combined 39 points. Liberty newcomer Natasha Cloud has averaged 20 points, 8.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game.’
Action Network: Best Bet – Aliyah Boston Under 15.5 Points (-140)
Jim Turvey writes, ‘Aliyah Boston has gotten off to a strong start in the new Fever offense, but there’s a lot pointing to the under on Saturday. For one, it’s a matchup with the best defense (the New York Liberty), with a defensive frontcourt that’s hands down the best in the WNBA.
‘Boston also has seen her points per game average jump by 1.7 this season, but her field goal attempts actually have dropped by 0.5. Part of that increased efficiency could be her talented teammates providing more space, but even if that’s the case, her 59/50/80 shooting splits won’t continue.’