The New York Liberty might have expected an easy night against Caitlin Clark and the young Indiana Fever on Saturday, but that wasn’t the case at all. A packed Gainbridge Fieldhouse, including Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton among the 17,000 fans, witnessed an all-time classic. Clark and the Fever battled fiercely against the defending champions, pushing them right to the edge. The Liberty, led by last year’s Finals MVP Jonquel Jones, rallied from a 12-point deficit to snatch the win. While Jones grabbed the spotlight with her performance, Sabrina Ionescu didn’t hesitate to praise another star whose effort made the victory possible.
The Liberty entered the third quarter with a 9-point lead, but the Fever flipped the script, taking an 8-point advantage heading into the final quarter. Caitlin Clark sparked the surge by draining two threes, including a buzzer-beater that brought the house down. The Liberty were outscored 13-30 in the third quarter, completely turning the game on its head. Aliyah Boston also had a phenomenal performance, leading the team with 27 points while grabbing 13 rebounds. “I also think it just shows us areas we need to continue to be better, like in the third quarter we should not be outscored 30 to 13. If we’re not, then this game is a completely different game,” Sabrina Ionescu said, reflecting on how strong the Fever played.
But the Liberty wouldn’t have won the game without the contribution of a recent signing—Natasha Cloud. Cloud joined the New York Liberty after being traded twice in the offseason, and her recent performances have already shown why she’s such a valuable piece. She proved that again against the Fever by making a major impact on both ends of the floor. So, Sabrina Ionescu had nothing but praise for her fellow guard.
“Everyone was so happy when she was able to come here and be a part of this team, and we trust in her and her ability to continue to get downhill,” said Ionescu in the postgame press conference. “She had a great offensive game as well—just pushing pace, getting the ball—while also guarding the best player on the other team. So I think it speaks volumes about her and her commitment to wanting to be great.”
Syndication: Arizona Republic Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud 0 calls for a jump ball on June 30, 2024, at Footprint Center in Phoenix. Phoenix , EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xOwenxZiliak/ThexRepublicx USATSI_23656469
Cloud ended the game with 16 points, 6 assists, 5 steals, and 7 rebounds—a stat line that’s impressive on its own. But what truly stood out was how she guarded Caitlin Clark. Cloud limited the Indiana superstar to just 6-of-18 shooting from the field and 2-of-11 from beyond the arc. Most notably, she made the clutch defensive stop on the final play, sealing the win for the defending champions.
But it’s not just Clark whom Cloud stopped. She made sure she was covering every aspect by going against DeWanna Bonner as well. While many believe a call should have been there on her, as she disrupted Bonner’s layup attempt by getting into her face, Sabrina said it was just her playing with all her heart. “She had one against DeWanna Bonner that was a huge block at the rim, and then got a huge stop at the end [on Clark]… she plays with a lot of heart, and we know what we’re gonna get from her,” Ionescu said after the game.
Caitlin Clark and co have a glaring weakness
The Fever have had a hectic start to their WNBA season, squeezing in four games over just eight days. Now, they finally get a much-needed break before hitting the road for their next challenge. Indiana will face the Washington Mystics on Wednesday, May 28 — a few valuable days that should give coach Stephanie White and her squad time to regroup, recover, and address the issues that have surfaced early in the season.
There’s no question that Indiana’s backcourt is among the best in the league. With names like Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, and Sophie Cunningham, the guard rotation is loaded with talent and firepower. But when it comes to the frontcourt, things aren’t quite as solid. Outside of Aliyah Boston, production has been inconsistent.
Unsurprisingly, the Fever have struggled to contain dominant bigs in their recent losses. Jonquel Jones poured in 26 points, including a massive fourth quarter where she outscored Indiana by herself. Just before that, it was Brittney Griner lighting them up with 21 points in Atlanta’s win. It’s becoming a pattern, and one that Coach Stephanie White will need to address quickly. If Indiana has championship aspirations, finding a way to slow down elite post players has to be a top priority.
It’s still early in the season, and the pieces are just starting to come together. With a new head coach and several fresh faces on the roster, including veterans like DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, Sydney Colson, and Sophie Cunningham, there’s naturally going to be a learning curve. Bonner hasn’t quite hit her stride yet, but once she does, the Fever should improve–especially on the defensive end against dominant frontcourt players. It’s a work in progress, but there’s reason to believe things will click as the team settles in.
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