Image Credit: © Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Indiana Fever Hand New York Liberty Their First Loss as Caitlin Clark Returns After Injury Layoff

The Indiana Fever took down the undefeated New York Liberty 102-88.

Image Credit: © Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Indiana Fever put an end to the New York Liberty’s nine-game winning streak and handed them their first defeat of the season. Not only this, but this was also Indiana’s first 100-point game, and they took down their counterparts 102-88. The game saw the return of Caitlin Clark after a five-game injury layoff. The 2024 Rookie of the Year came up with a remarkable performance and led her team with 32 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.

102 points in a HUGE bounce-back dub at home 🔥#FeverWin pic.twitter.com/4XQmUhH6cf
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 14, 2025

Sophie Cunningham also returned after re-aggravating her ankle injury and posted five points and four rebounds off the bench. Kelsey Mitchell dropped 22 points, two rebounds and one assists whereas Lexie Hull tallied 14 points, four rebounds and two assists. For Liberty, Sabrina Ionescu dropped 34 points, two rebounds and four assists while Breanna Stewart came up with 24 points, five rebounds and two assists. With the defeat, the Liberty fell short of one win from becoming the fourth team in the history of the WNBA to start a season 10-0.

Caitlin Clark Shines for Fever in First Matchup After Missing Five Games

CAITLIN CLARK PUTS ON A SHOW, FEVER TAKE DOWN UNDEFEATED LIBERTY 🙌

🔥 32 PTS
🔥 9 AST
🔥 8 REB
🔥 7 3PM@IndianaFever improve to 3-1 in the WNBA Commissioner's Cup 📈 pic.twitter.com/NDIBcZuN5H
— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 2025

Caitlin Clark returned to action after missing five straight games with a left quadriceps injury which she suffered during the previous meeting with the Liberty. However, with the kind of game she played, it seemed like Clark was never away. She opened the scoring within two minutes and sank a pull-up jumper to even the score at 4-4. She was subbed out within just four minutes into the opening quarter and came back when there were three minutes remaining in the quarter.

Caitlin Clark just scored 9 points in less than 45 seconds 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/SWBk9PhI4g
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 14, 2025

The Liberty went for an 11-0 run after the score was tied at 6-6 until three minutes into the game. However, Clark took over and scored 10 points with just one minute remaining in the quarter. It helped the Fever end the first period at just 26-24, while she finished with 14 points, two rebounds and two assists. Clark continued her scoring in the next quarter and recorded her career-high first half score at 25 points, five rebounds and three assists. Clark could score only seven points after halftime but dished out six more assists.

The former Iowa star finished the game with her season-high score of 32 points, one steal and two blocks as the Fever rolled past their rivals 102-88.

Caitlin Clark

Indiana Fever

New York Liberty

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.