After the Indiana Fever ended last season at the bottom of the standings in 10th place, it was clear the team needed a game-changer to revive the franchise’s fortunes. To reignite their competitive spirit, they made their bid on Caitlin Clark, making her the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft. Fast forward to now, and Clark has more than justified their decision as the Fever are currently holding steady in sixth place with a 19-19 record, already clinching a spot in the playoffs.

At just 22 years old, Caitlin Clark has quickly became the heartbeat of the Indiana Fever, showing up for every game in her rookie season and leading the assist charts. However, as the playoffs approach, she’ll need to step up her game after a few underwhelming performances against the Las Vegas Aces.

Caitlin Clark’s accuracy wanes as Fever face final push!

The sharpshooter! That’s what Clark is often being called considering the exceptional shooting accuracy she possess in her game. Before making her mark in the WNBA, the former Hawkeye nailed 37.8% of her three-pointers in her final college year. Well, she’s carried that sharp shooting into the professional arena, currently holding a solid 33.7% from beyond the arc.

However, as the rookie’s debut season nears its end with just two regular-season games remaining, Caitlin Clark seems to be off track. The stats could raise concerns among Clark and Fever loyalist, as the rookie guard has struggled recently, hitting only three of her 18 three-pointer attempts in the last two games against the Las Vegas Aces.

In their third matchup of the season against the Aces, Caitlin Clark had a rough night from beyond the arc, hitting just 10 percent of her shots. Despite making 10 attempts, only one found the basket. If it seemed like an off night, the following game didn’t bring any relief, as Clark struggled to find her rhythm once again.

Just two days later, Caitlin Clark faced the Aces again, hoping to shake off her previous shooting woes. Unfortunately, the results didn’t improve much. Clark took 8 shots, but only 2 found the mark, leaving her with a disappointing 25 percent shooting rate—well below her usual average. These figures are definitely are alarm bells for the Fever if they want to continue their glorious run in the first round fixtures. Well, as Clark’s shooting skills went missing against Aces, the rookie was completely locked down by the Wilson and company.

Clark’s rollercoaster finish: Technical foul and record-breaking moment amidst Aces’ defeat

In their final matchup of the season against the Aces, which ended in an 86-75 defeat, the Fever’s rookie sensation, Caitlin Clark, struggled significantly, especially in the first quarter. The Aces quickly surged ahead, aiming for a clean sweep after dominating the first three games. Meanwhile, Clark, who had been the Fever’s brightest hope, was off her game.

The Aces’ defense, spearheaded by A’ja Wilson, effectively stifled her, leaving her scoreless in the first half. The struggle began early when Clark picked up her second foul within the first five minutes of the game. Frustrated, she yelled and hit the basketball hoop in exasperation. The officials, quick to react, called a technical foul on Clark, adding to her mounting difficulties on the court.

With that call, Caitlin Clark racked up her sixth technical foul of the season, making it the second-most in the league. Coach Christie Sides decided it was best to bench her for a bit, which meant Clark was kept scoreless during those crucial early moments. Despite this rocky start, Clark rebounded strongly, finishing the game with 18 points and 9 assists. She also made history by breaking the single-season assist record, surpassing Alyssa Thomas’ mark of 316.

The Fever’s next challenge is a showdown against the Dallas Wings, who are heading to Indianapolis for the clash. With the playoffs on the line, it’ll be fascinating to see how Caitlin Clark bounces back after a couple of lackluster performances against the Aces.