Caitlin Clark Dominates as Fever Defeat Storm

An underhanded Seattle Storm took on  Eastern Conference leaders, the Indiana Fever, led by Caitlin Clark.  Taking on the league’s highest-scoring offense was always going to be a challenge, and the absence of All-Star center Dominique Malonga due to illness made the mission improbable for the home team. One trait the Storm have shown all season is tireless effort and grit from start to finish. 

In Tuesday’s loss to the Fever, the Storm used a 10-2 run in the first four minutes to keep pace. The Fever showed their offensive firepower, bolting to a 37-20 lead in the first quarter.

FIGHT BACK

Despite the deficit, the Storm showed resilience and outscored the Fever 25-21 in the second quarter to win the quarter.  Natisha Heideman scored 10 of the team’s 25 points. The Storm made  11 of 22 shots from the field.  Despite winning the quarter, the Storm went into the halftime break down 47-59.

STRONG THIRD QUARTER

The Storm came out of the halftime break with resolve and determination, outscoring the Fever 16-7.  Flaue Johnson scored a bucket, hit back-to-back free throws to cut the Fever’s lead to seven points at 50-58.  Caitlin Clark answered the mini run with a three-pointer and a 12-foot turnaround jumper.  The teams traded baskets, with the Storm gaining momentum and cutting the Fever’s lead to a bucket with 5:51 left in the quarter after Awa Fam’s three-pointer.   Despite finding their offensive rhythm and outscoring the Fever 25-18 in the third quarter, it was the Fever that started the fourth quarter with a 76-72 lead.

IMAGES BY ANTHONY MAY

UNABLE TO   CATCH THE FEVER

The Fever went on a torrid scoring streak, connecting on three consecutive three-pointers. One from Myisha Hines-Allen and two from  Kelsey Mitchell to extend the lead to 85-76.  A Katie  Lou Samuelson bucket was the only Storm point in the Fever’s 11-4 run that saw them extend their lead to 11. The Storm tried to claw their way back into the game but were unable to get over the hump, as the Fever won 105-95.

KEY STATS OF THE GAME

• The Storm turned the ball over just five times, the lowest turnover total in a game so far this season.
• Seatle outscored Indiana in points in the paint (40-36), second chance points (14-6) and fast break points (10-8).

STORM HIGHLIGHTS

• Natisha Hiedeman set a new career-high with 33 points on 55% (11-for-20) shooting from the field and finished with a team-high six rebounds, which included her 500th career board.
• Flau’jae Johnson tallied 16 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals as she became the first rookie this season to 400+ points and 150+ rebounds.
• Awa Fam recorded 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and a block.
• Zia Cooke shot 66.7% (2-for-3) from beyond the arc and notched 10 points for her ninth 10+ point game of the season.

FEVER HIGHLIGHTS

• Caitlin Clark led Indiana with 32 points and Kelsey Mitchell added 28.

UP NEXT: The Storm opens a four-game road trip in Atlanta on Friday, July 31. Tipoff is at 4:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast nationally on ION.