LOS ANGELES — Caitlin Clark had 11 factors and 10 rebounds for her first WNBA double-double and the Indiana Fever beat the Los Angeles Sparks 78-73 on Friday night time to snap a season-opening five-game skid in entrance of a Sparks document crowd of 19,103.
Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana (1-5) with 18 factors and Aliyah Boston and Temi Fagbenle had 17 every.
Clark’s rebounds have been a profession excessive. She missed her first seven 3-point makes an attempt, however lastly made one with 2:27 remaining within the recreation, triggering an explosion of cheers and applause.
The sport featured the youth and way forward for the WNBA, with No. 1 draft decide Clark enjoying towards No. 2 decide Cameron Brink and fourth choice Rickea Jackson of the Sparks.
“They’re making a huge effect in our league,” Fever coach Christie Sides stated earlier than the sport.
Brink had 15 factors and 9 rebounds and Jackson added 16 factors off the bench for the Sparks (1-3). Dearica Hamby had 18 factors and 12 rebounds.
Jason Sudeikis, Rosie O’Donnell, Kathy Griffin, DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls, Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors, USC star JuJu Watkins together with teammate Rayah Marshall and coach Lindsay Gottlieb have been among the many franchise’s largest dwelling crowd for the Sparks’ first recreation at Crypto.com Area this season.
Clark gave a thumbs up and smiled as she walked throughout the courtroom after the buzzer and the group cheered her each transfer.
Boston, Fagbenle and Mitchell dominated the fourth quarter, with Mitchell hitting back-to-back 3-pointers.
Brink made a 3-pointer and Lexi Brown scored to attract the Sparks to 73-71. However Clark answered along with her second 3-pointer with 40 seconds left and the group roared once more as Indiana stayed in entrance, 76-71.
The Fever have been simply 7 of 25 from lengthy vary; the Sparks additionally struggled, going 5 of 24.
The Sparks performed their first two dwelling video games in Lengthy Seashore, however with Clark and the Fever on the town the sport was moved to downtown Los Angeles.
Trailing 45-34, the Fever opened the third quarter on a 16-3 run to guide 50-48. Fagbenle and Boston mixed to attain all of Indiana’s factors, with Fagbenle’s 3-pointer capping the spurt. Clark didn’t rating however she got here up with a giant steal at midcourt and after she missed Boston scored.
Up subsequent, the Fever go to the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, and the Sparks host the Dallas Wings on Sunday.
The Fever and Sparks meet once more Tuesday in Indianapolis.