Caitlin Clark Faces Tough Week as Indiana Fever Stumbles; Lynx Climbs to Top
Caitlin Clark faced one of the toughest weeks of her WNBA career as the Indiana Fever suffered back-to-back losses on their west coast road trip. The Fever fell to the Golden State Valkyries and the expansion Portland Fire, leaving Clark with a disappointing performance that raised concerns about her game. Across the two games, Clark scored only 22 points on 4 of 19 shooting, struggling particularly from beyond the arc with 2 of 8 from three-point range. Her defensive capabilities were also heavily tested, leading to foul trouble and a notable dispute with coach Stephanie White during the match against the Fire. Key highlights from her performance include: Defensive struggles, with Clark defending 42 isolation possessions, more than any other player. Despite a better effort in Portland, she still faced relentless attacks from the Valkyries and Fire. The Fever's defensive rating was slightly better with Clark on the floor (113.1) than off (115), but both figures were alarming. Clarkâs shooting splits show a stark contrast: 42 of 108 (38.9%) at home versus 5 of 50 (10%) on the road from three-point range since last season. While she remains a top performer, averaging 20.1 points, 4 rebounds, and 8.1 assists with a 56.4% true shooting, questions linger about her defensive responsibilities. The Fever stand at 4-4, with three losses by three points or fewer, placing them two games out of first place. Despite the challenges, it's important to remember that two games do not define a season or a career.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-06-01