Caitlin Clark hits game-winning 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining to lead Fever over Mystics
On the verge of a loss after the Indiana Fever gave up a big lead, Caitlin Clark hit a dagger. The Indiana Fever guard nailed a long 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining to give the Fever a 78-76 win after a late rally from the Washington Mystics.
Indiana was up by as many as 16 points Monday before Washington started to come back in the fourth quarter. The Mystics finally took a 74-73 lead with less than a minute remaining on a layup by Shakira Austin.
Clark then had a chance to give the Fever the lead with a pair of free throws, but uncharacteristically missed both. It was a layup from Kelsey Mitchell a few seconds later that ended up giving Indiana back the lead, but Mystics guard Sonia Citron took it back with two free throws to give the Mystics a 76-75 lead.
That left it all to Clark, who was left wide-open outside the arc as Sophia Cunningham inbounded the ball, and the Fever superstar hit the game-winner.
Washington was playing without forward Kiki Iriafen, who exited the game early in the second quarter. Iriafen landed awkwardly on her leg after battling under the net with Aliyah Boston and had to be helped off the court; Iriafen was later ruled out with a right ankle sprain.
With Iriafen out, and Citron off to an usually slow start, Washington’s comeback was powered by starting forward Michaela Onyenwere, who finished with a team-high 17 points.
Clark led all scorers with 19 points — her most in a five-game span as the guard seemingly appears to be pulling out of a recent slump.
Monday’s game-winning shot, though, was very reminiscent of the last time the Fever and the Mystics faced off, when Clark hit a late 3-pointer that sent the game to overtime. However, Washington was able to get the two-point win in OT behind a career-high 30 points from Citron.
This time, it was Indiana that picked up the win on the road, moving to 6-5 on the season.
