Fans showed up in Minnesota in droves on Sunday decked out in Caitlin Clark gear to support the Indiana Fever.
They were treated to a Fever upset of the first-place Minnesota Lynx anchored by a big performance from Aliyah Boston. The Fever rallied from a 60-53 deficit to outscore the Lynx by 14 points in the fourth quarter in an 81-74 win.
The win was the eighth in 12 games for the Fever, who have bounced back from a 3-10 start to an 11-14 record to work their way into the playoff mix. The Lynx, meanwhile fell to 16-8, a half-game behind the resurgent Las Vegas Aces for first place in the Western Conference.
It wasn’t necessarily a pro-Fever crowd, but there were plenty of fans at the sold-out Target Center stands supporting the Fever — so much so that Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was asked about the anticipated influx of Fever fans pregame.
Here’s what she had to say when asked about expected cheers for the road team:
“I don’t give two s***s,” Reeve said. “Not even one s***.”
Those predictions played out pregame as Clark made her way around the crowd to sign autographs for fans sporting Fever gear and Clark jerseys.
The support for Indiana was audible as soon as Clark secured the ball on the opening tip. The Fever then opened a 20-19 first-quarter lead before the game went into halftime tied at 38.
Minnesota then took control in the third quarter as Clark struggled from the field. Clark had seven points through three quarters as the Lynx opened a 60-53 lead before the final stanza.
But the fourth quarter belonged the Fever, who outscored the Lynx 28-14 in the final 10 minutes. Clark opened the fourth with a 3-pointer, then gave the Fever a 67-65 lead with a driving layup with under seven minutes.
The Fever took the lead for good at 73-71 on a Boston layup on a Clark assist with 2:54 remaining.
When Clark was fouled in the final seconds with the Indiana win in hand, Fever fans made themselves heard.
Boston led the Indiana effort with 17 points, 16 rebounds, two assists and four blocks. Kelsey Mitchell paced the Fever scoring effort with 21 points. Clark bounced back from a slow start with 10 points in the fourth for 17 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals.
When she was done, Clark tossed her shoes to a fan in the stands.
The Clark effect has been felt throughout the WNBA season in the stands. It’s only going to amplify as long as the Fever continue turn their season around.
Source Agencies
