Caitlin Clark returns, Fever win

Caitlin Clark returned from a one-game absence on Friday, May 22, and helped the Indiana Fever beat the Golden State Valkyries 90-82 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Clark scored 22 points and added nine assists in 32 minutes, according to ESPN’s highlight video and the WNBA game recap. Aliyah Boston added 20 points and 16 rebounds as Indiana won its third straight game. ### How did Clark look in her first game back? Clark’s line was 22 points, nine assists and four made 3-pointers against Golden State. ESPN described her return as “dazzling” in a highlight package posted after the game, and the video showed a series of deep 3-pointers, transition passes and late-game plays as Indiana closed out the win. (youtube.com) The Fever said Clark, Boston and Kelsey Mitchell led the offense in the 90-82 victory. Indiana’s official recap said Boston recorded her 42nd career double-double, while Mitchell scored 19 points. ### What was Clark returning from? Clark had missed one game with a back injury before playing on Friday. (youtube.com) The WNBA game recap and AP report on the league site both identified the absence as a one-game layoff tied to her back. In a pregame media availability video posted before the Valkyries game, Clark discussed the back injury and the timeline around her absence. (fever.wnba.com) The clip’s description said she addressed “her back injury and timeline of her absence in the prior game.” ### How did Indiana win this game? Indiana finished with a late push after trailing earlier in the game, according to the ESPN and Fever highlight packages referenced in coverage of the game. (wnba.com) The official recap framed the result as a team win built around Clark, Boston and Mitchell, with Boston’s rebounding and interior scoring helping steady the Fever. (youtube.com) The WNBA recap said the victory moved Indiana to its fourth win of the season. ESPN’s video description also said Clark’s performance helped the Fever pick up their fourth win against the Valkyries. ### What did the Fever say afterward? The Fever posted postgame media availability featuring Clark, Boston and head coach Stephanie White after the win. (youtube.com) The team said the three spoke with reporters following the 90-82 result over Golden State. Indiana’s team site also published a follow-up item under the headline “Caitlin Clark Fever Channel Frustration into Elation in Win over Valkyries,” indicating Clark addressed the swing from the game’s difficult stretches to the finish. ### What comes next for Indiana? Indiana’s official schedule lists the Fever’s next game as a road matchup against the Washington Mystics on Thursday, May 28. (fever.wnba.com) Clark, Boston and Mitchell are expected to remain central figures as the Fever continue a stretch of early-season games. (fever.wnba.com)