The Indiana Fever suffered an 89-81 defeat against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, June 22, 2025, extending their losing streak. Rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, known for her long-range shooting, struggled from beyond the arc, contributing to the Fever's offensive woes. Clark finished the game with 19 points and 11 assists, but shot just 1-of-10 from three-point range. This performance follows another tough shooting night against the Golden State Valkyries, where she went 0-for-7 from three. In total, Clark has made only 1 of her last 17 attempts from beyond the arc in the past two games.
Despite Clark's shooting slump, Indiana Fever Head Coach Stephanie White remains unfazed. After the game against the Aces, White addressed the media, emphasizing the need to create better opportunities for Clark. "I think the biggest thing is what we as a staff have to do to get her better looks, higher quality looks," White stated, according to a post by Chloe Peterson of IndyStar. White acknowledged that opposing teams are focusing their defensive strategies on forcing Clark to score inside the three-point line, using physicality and various coverage techniques.
However, White expressed confidence in Clark's shooting ability, stating, "I'm not worried about Caitlin's shot. Caitlin's shot is going to be just fine." Instead, White highlighted the team's 18 turnovers, which led to 28 points for the Aces, as a more pressing concern.
Clark herself addressed her recent shooting struggles, acknowledging that slumps are a natural part of the game. "There are going to be stretches that are really good and there's going to be stretches that aren't as good, and obviously it's frustrating as you want them to go in," Clark said. She added that despite the misses, she felt good about some of her shots, and doesn't believe anything is fundamentally wrong with her technique.
Some WNBA fans have expressed concern over Clark's recent performance, with some suggesting she appeared mentally drained after the loss to the Aces. However, others pointed out that even the best shooters experience slumps, and Clark's overall impact on the game extends beyond her three-point shooting.
Before this 1-for-17 stretch, Clark shot 11-for-20 from beyond the arc in the two prior games. For the 2025 season, Clark is averaging 19.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists, while shooting 41.7 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three-point range. Notably, Clark is shooting an impressive 45.5% from beyond 30 feet this season, having made 5 of 11 attempts from that distance.
In the game against the Aces, Aliyah Boston led the Fever with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Clark contributed 19 points and 11 assists, recording her fourth double-double of the season. Clark also recorded her 400th career assist. The Fever had previously secured a spot in the Commissioner's Cup final after a win against the Connecticut Sun.
Looking ahead, the Indiana Fever will face the Seattle Storm on June 24, 2025, as they conclude their West Coast road trip. Coach White and the team will focus on improving their overall performance and creating better scoring opportunities for Clark, while remaining confident in her ability to bounce back from her current shooting slump.
