ATLANTA — Natasha Howard scored 26 factors and the Indiana Fever overcame Caitlin Clark’s chilly long-distance capturing to beat the Atlanta Dream 81-76 earlier than a sellout crowd Thursday evening to separate a two-game sequence this week.
Atlanta gained 91-90 at Indiana on Tuesday evening.
Clark missed every of her 5 3-pointers. That ended a streak of 140 video games, together with the WNBA common season and playoffs and the majority of her faculty profession at Iowa, with not less than one 3. The final time Clark was held with no 3 was Jan. 13, 2022, when she went 0-for-6 towards Purdue throughout her sophomore season. That is a stretch of 1,225 days.
In actual fact, Clark has performed 184 video games throughout the NCAA and WNBA, and Thursday evening and the Purdue recreation are the one cases of her failing to make a 3.
Clark and teammate Aliyah Boston every went to the bench with 4 fouls early within the third quarter. Clark completed with 11 factors and 6 assists.
Kelsey Mitchell’s 3-pointer gave Indiana a 76-75 lead. Clark discovered Boston for a layup, solely her second discipline aim, which prolonged the benefit to 79-76.
Rhyne Howard led Atlanta with 24 factors.
Sophie Cunningham scored 9 factors in her debut for Indiana after lacking the primary two video games with a proper ankle sprain. Coach Stephanie White mentioned Cunningham was cleared to play with no restriction on her minutes.
The Dream introduced guard Jordin Canada, out with a proper knee damage, will resume basketball actions “within the coming weeks.”
The Dream moved the sport to State Farm Enviornment, dwelling to the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, and mentioned shortly earlier than tipoff that the 16,888-seat venue was bought out. The Dream’s regular dwelling, Gateway Heart Enviornment, holds solely 3,500.
Info from ESPN Analysis and The Related Press was used on this report.
