Caitlin Clark saved one of her most complete performances of the season for Friday night in Portland. The Indiana Fever guard recorded her fourth career triple double and reached a major scoring milestone as Indiana rolled to a 112 to 98 road win over the Portland Fire at the Moda Center.
The victory was the Fever’s fifth straight game scoring 100 points or more, which is the longest such streak in WNBA history. It also lifted Indiana to 19 wins and 10 losses on the season, keeping the team firmly in the playoff picture.
Clark’s historic night
Clark finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, shooting 5 of 9 from the field and a busy 14 of 17 from the free throw line. It was her first triple double of the season and only the fourth of her professional career, a total that now ranks among the most in league history for any player and the most ever by a guard.
The bigger headline came earlier in the game. When Clark scored her 1,500th career point in just her 78th game, she became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach both 1,500 points and 500 assists. For a player who only returned last month from a back injury, the pace of her climb through the record books has been remarkable.
Fever head coach Stephanie White said the most impressive part was not the scoring. She admitted she did not even realize Clark had a triple double until the team reached the locker room, and pointed to Clark’s defensive rebounding as the area where she keeps improving.
How the game unfolded
Portland hung close early. The teams traded baskets through a tight first quarter that Indiana edged 27 to 25, and the Fire stayed within range at the half.
The game turned in the third quarter. Indiana poured in 34 points in the frame and built a commanding 90 to 72 lead heading into the final ten minutes. That surge gave the Fever enough cushion to absorb a late Portland push and control the result down the stretch.
Indiana’s ability to score in bunches was the story of the night. Six different players reached double figures, and the team converted 31 points off Portland turnovers.
Mitchell and the supporting cast
Kelsey Mitchell matched Clark for the team lead with 26 points, though she needed 21 shots to get there. The bigger note for Mitchell was another streak. It was her 13th consecutive game scoring 20 points or more, tying Diana Taurasi for the second longest run of its kind in league history. She also moved into sixth place on the all time WNBA three pointers list.
Aliyah Boston filled the box score with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals, while also passing 900 career field goals. Off the bench, Sophie Cunningham provided a spark with 13 points on 3 of 5 shooting from deep, adding energy on a night when Indiana needed to answer every Portland run.
Portland’s fight
The Fire did not go quietly. Veteran guard Bridget Carleton led all scorers with a game high 26 points, connecting on 7 of her 11 attempts from three point range. Carla Leite ran the offense with a double double of 20 points and 12 assists, and Emily Engstler chipped in 10 points off the bench.
Portland shot a healthy 52 percent from the field for the game, but 20 turnovers and Indiana’s relentless scoring proved too much to overcome.
Box score at a glance
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caitlin Clark | Indiana | 26 | 10 | 10 |
| Kelsey Mitchell | Indiana | 26 | 0 | 2 |
| Aliyah Boston | Indiana | 14 | 9 | 6 |
| Sophie Cunningham | Indiana | 13 | 0 | 3 |
| Bridget Carleton | Portland | 26 | 3 | 2 |
| Carla Leite | Portland | 20 | 2 | 12 |
| Emily Engstler | Portland | 10 | 2 | 5 |
What comes next
The Fever stay on the road and turn around quickly, facing the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday in what projects to be a stiffer test against one of the league’s top teams.
For the latest official statistics, readers can check the WNBA game center, and for full milestone coverage of Clark’s record chase, Yahoo Sports has a detailed breakdown.
Times Square News will continue to cover the Indiana Fever throughout the season.
