Caitlin Clark faced her toughest test as a WNBA player Saturday, as she and the Fever went up against the reigning champion Aces on the second night of a back-to-back.
The challenge showed in her stat line. The 22-year-old rookie finished with the lowest points total of her young career in Indiana's 99-80 loss at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.
Clark found herself outplayed by her former Iowa teammate and fellow rookie Kate Martin, who finished with a career-high 12 points and seven rebounds for the Aces.
Most of the scoring for the Aces (3-1), though, came from their star trio: A'ja Wilson led the team with 29 points and 15 rebounds, while Jackie Young added 22 points and six assists and Kelsey Plum had 20 points and seven assists.
With the loss, the Fever dropped to 1-6 on the season just one day after notching their first win Friday against the Sparks. Behind a near-triple-double of 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists from Clark, Indiana pulled off a second-half comeback to defeat the Sparks, 78-73, in Los Angeles.
The Sporting News has you covered with Clark's stats and highlights from Fever vs. Aces below.
MORE: WNBA rookie ladder: Where Clark, Brink, Angel Reese rank
Caitlin Clark stats vs. Las Vegas Aces
Final: Aces 99, Fever 80
Minutes Played | 29 |
Points | 8 |
Rebounds | 5 |
Assists | 7 |
Steals | 1 |
Blocks | 0 |
Turnovers | 6 |
FG | 2-8 |
3FG | 2-5 |
FT | 2-2 |
Fouls | 2 |
MORE: Meet Kate Martin, Clark's Iowa teammate turned Aces rookie
Caitlin Clark highlights vs. Las Vegas Aces
Clark's two biggest early-season issues were glaring in the loss to the Aces. The Fever rookie was inefficient, shooting 2-for-8 from the field, and she had six turnovers.
Still, she did manage two of her signature 3-pointers. Clark's highlight of the first half was a tough stepback 3-pointer right in Plum's face — her lone make of the game in the first half.
Caitlin Clark from wayyyyy downtown 💪
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 26, 2024
📺 NBA TV pic.twitter.com/PTP6MX75nE
Martin, who Clark called "one of her best friends" ahead of the game, also notched two 3-pointers, among other highlight-reel plays.
MONEYYYYY MARTINNNNN@kate_martin22 // #ALLINLV pic.twitter.com/6dBAqfjvsM
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) May 26, 2024
so nice, we had to see it TWICE! 👀@kate_martin22 // #ALLINLV pic.twitter.com/sX3zjJi4p8
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) May 26, 2024