Caitlin Clark Leads Indiana Fever to Victory in Season Opener, Defeats LA Sparks 78-73 in Front of 19,103 Fans

The Indiana Fever secured their first win of the season in a thrilling 78-73 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in front of a record-breaking crowd of 19,103 fans at Crypto.com Arena.

Caitlin Clark led the way for the Fever with a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, including a career-high performance on the boards. Despite missing her first seven 3-point attempts, Clark finally connected from deep late in the game, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

The game showcased the young talent of the WNBA, with No. 1 draft pick Caitlin Clark facing off against No. 2 pick Cameron Brink and fourth selection Rickea Jackson of the Sparks. Both teams’ rookies made significant impacts, with Brink scoring 15 points and Jackson adding 16 off the bench.

Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 18 points, while Aliyah Boston and Temi Fagbenle contributed 17 points each. The Fever dominated the fourth quarter, with Mitchell hitting crucial back-to-back 3-pointers to secure the win.

Despite a late surge from the Sparks, led by Dearica Hamby’s 18 points and 12 rebounds, Indiana held on for the victory. The Fever’s strong defensive effort limited the Sparks to just 5 of 24 shooting from beyond the arc.

The two teams will meet again in Indianapolis on Tuesday, with the Fever looking to build on their momentum. Indiana will next face the Las Vegas Aces, while the Sparks will host the Dallas Wings in their upcoming matchups.