SPARKS: Clark’s late-game heroics seal the deal for Indiana Fever’s first win

LOS ANGELES — The Indiana Fever are winless no longer. Guard Kelsey Mitchell scored 18 points to lead the Fever (1-5) to a 78-73 victory Friday night over the Los Angeles Sparks (1-3) at Crypto.com Arena.

Friday’s electrifying matchup showcased a clash of this year’s high-ranking WNBA draft picks, with the spotlight on Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Sparks center Cameron Brink.

Enthusiasm teemed from the rafters to the sidelines in a packed-out Crypto.com Arena of 19,103 fans; an ocean of Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes and Fever jerseys could be seen throughout the arena. Although Clark battled to find her shot early on, a 30-foot 3-point shot in the game’s waning moments secured Indiana’s first win.

“You embrace those moments when the team needs a big shot,” Clark said. “Would have been nice to hit a few more of those [shots] tonight, but we got the job done.”

Clark’s performance for the Fever is a testament to her resilience. Despite starting the game shooting 0-for-seven from 3-point range—when the team needed her to deliver––Clark proved her mettle. She nailed two deep-range 3-pointers in the final minutes, showcasing the exquisite shot-making ability that made waves in women’s college basketball.

The Sparks led by 11 points at halftime, seemingly having the game under control. Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, an offensive force to be reckoned with, carried the offensive load with 16 first-half points. However, the Fever staged a roaring comeback in the third quarter, neutralizing Hamby by holding her to just 2 points the rest of the game.

Hamby got help from rookies Brink and forward Rickea Jackson, yet Los Angeles’ inability to contribute from the rest of the team doomed its efforts. Brink added 15 points and nine rebounds, while Jackson continued her strong start, scoring 16 points on five-for-seven from the field. However, guards Lexie Brown, Kia Nurse and Layshia Clarendon stymied the Sparks’ offense rhythm by contributing a combined 11 points.

Next, the Sparks host the Dallas Wings (1-2) on Sunday at 6 p.m. Los Angeles will need a win over their division rival to move out of last place in the standings.