In a thrilling game in Portland, Caitlin Clark stood out with a stellar performance for the Indiana Fever. She achieved a triple-double, contributing 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking her fourth career triple-double. The Fever secured a 112-98 victory over the Portland Fire on Friday night.
Kelsey Mitchell matched Clark’s point total, scoring 26 for the Fever, who have won five consecutive games. The team’s current record stands at 19-10, with victories in nine out of their last 11 matches. Notably, the team has scored 100 or more points in the last five games.
For Portland, Bridget Carleton also scored 26 points. Unfortunately, the Fire, now standing at 11-18, faced their fourth consecutive defeat. Despite a close game, the Fever pulled ahead in the third quarter, establishing an 18-point lead and ending the period at 90-72. Makayla Timpson extended the lead with an early fourth-quarter layup.
Portland attempted a comeback with Carleton narrowing the gap to 98-88 after a three-pointer with 4:08 remaining. She followed with a layup, making it 100-93. However, Clark’s free throws extended the Fever’s lead to 110-96 with a minute left, sealing the Fire’s fate.
The game was not just about basketball, as there was a pregame rally outside the Moda Center. Supporters gathered for Sophie Cunningham, following her remarks on banning transgender athletes from women’s sports. During the game, Cunningham faced boos when joining midway through the first quarter, but she quickly hit a three-pointer, boosting the Fever to a 14-8 lead. Cunningham ended the game with 13 points.
The Moda Center saw a sellout crowd with a Fire-record of 19,959 attendees.
Looking ahead, the Indiana Fever will face Minnesota, while the Portland Fire will host Los Angeles.