The Indiana Fever had what the team hopes will end up being the defining moment of the season, and one that spurs a lengthy win streak on Monday night against the Washington Mystics. After star point guard, Caitlin Clark dominated in the first quarter with 10 points, her production returned to earth for the rest of the game, and she had only 16 points entering the final minute of regulation.
After going 0-for-2 from the free-throw line late in the game, failing to take the lead or tie, it looked like the WNBA discourse was destined for another week around Clark and Fever’s shortcomings.
Instead, Clark redeemed her free-throw misses and sank a go-ahead three-pointer with just 1.2 seconds left in regulation.
“Didn’t follow the plan… won anyway.”
There was speculation by social media “coaches” afterward that Sophie Cunningham, the inbounder on the play, ad libbed and threw Clark the ball even though the play wasn’t designed for her to get the final look. Shockingly, an Instagram post from guard Sophie Cunningham revealed that the Fever did, in fact, go against the original play design to get Clark the look.
Lexie Hull confirmed that there was improvisation and the original plan in a radio appearance on Tuesday.
“We were trying to draw a foul there,” she said. “I think Caitlin’s a great basketball player. She made a read. Sophie was able to deliver a perfect pass to her. She knocked it down when it mattered. I can’t say that’s exactly what we drew up, but it worked. So we’ll take it any day of the week.”
Regardless of how the play was drawn up or executed, head coach Stephanie White was just happy her star reminded the world of the caliber of player she is.
“Sometimes we take great players, and certainly generational talent, for granted,” she said after the game, per ESPN. “What she did was incredible for us. She’s going to have many more moments like that. I know she is. And we needed this one tonight.”
“I don’t know that the noise is ever going to be quiet,” she added. “This is what Caitlin does. She makes big shots, and she has big moments.”
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.