Caitlin Clark’s triple-double leads Fever past Sky in opener

Indianapolis – The Indiana Fever Started their season saturday with a blowout victory over the Chicago SkyA Triple-Double from Caitlin Clarka career milestone for fever newcomer Dewanna Bonner And a kerfuffe between clark and the sky’s ANGEL RESE. Talk about a full opening day.

Gainbridge Fieldhouse was packed with 17,274 fans to see the fever defeat the Sky 93-58, TYing for the Second-Largest Margin of Victory in Franchise History. Clark, Last Season’s Rookie of the year and an all-wnba first-team selection, get her third triple-double as a wnba player after 17 in college at yow. She had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, Plus 4 blocks.

Still, a lot of attention will go to a sequence in the Third Quarter. Clark, look to stop reae from getting a wide-open layup, tried to strip her of the ball and was called for a foul. RESE fell to the floor and then get up to go after clark, who walked away.

Indiana’s Aliyah BostonAttempting to keep the two players apart, picked up a technical, which she does not know about the game when asked about it by Media.

Boston, who finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks, then exposed asonishment about the technical. Clark toold her, “I get it for you, don’t worry,” about the $ 200 Fine.

As for the incidence overall – Clark’s foul was upgraded to a flagrant 1 – She Said She was making a play on the ball, which replays showed.

“Let’s not make it any, it is not,” clark said. “I’m not sure what the refs meaning to upgrade it; that’s up to their discount after watching the Initial WHATEVER HAPPENED THE PLAY AND WHATEVER HAPPEN HAPPENED.

“It is a take foul to put them at the free-way line rather than that give up two points. That’s exactly what it was.

Asked by a Pool Reporter after the game, Crew Chief Roy Gulbeyan Explained the Officials’ Reasoning.

“The Foul [by] Clark Met the Criteria for Flagrant 1, for Wind up, Impact, and Follow Through for the extension of the left hand to the reese’s back, which is de -emed not a legitimate basketball play, and Unnecessary Contact. After the foul, there is a Physical Taunt Technical on Boston and a verbal technical on the reese, which offset. “

In a brief sky postgame press conference, reese – who had 12 points and 17 rebounds – said of the foul, “Basketball play. Move on.”

Last Season, Rese and then-Sky Player Chennedy Carter Were Called for Flagrant Fouls on Plays Against Clark in Two Different Games. The foul Against Carter Wasn is upgraded until the next day, however.

Both clark and reae have downplayed any personal rivalry between them. But their fan bases have been at odds sins they met in the 2023 NCAA final in which reese’s lsu squad bit clark’s Iowa team. Clark was no. 1 Pick in the 2024 Draft and RESE WAS No. 7.

The fever and the sky play five times during the regular season; Their next match is june 7 at the united center in chicago.

Indiana’s Stephanie White, starting her second stint coaching the fever, was played defensively and the chemistry showed beef and after the incidence inventor and CLARK.

“Nobody’s Going to get any age against us; we’re going to be a tough defensive team,” white friend. “I thinkt it was a clear play on the ball as well. So you go to feel us.

“I am proud of this group we have a lot of young players, we have a lot of veterans. Felt that was a moment where we came together and we use that to propel us. “

One of the fever’s veterans is boner, who is this season to Indiana but in her 16th year in the wnba. Bonner Scored 7 Points Saturday and Moved Into Third Place All-Time in the League in Scoring (7,489) Behind Retired Diana Taurasi (10,646) and Connecticut ‘ Tina Charles (7,696).

Bonner and Seattle’s Alysha Clark are the oldest active players in the wnba at 37.

“Definitely a perfect opening day,” saadoner, who signed with Indiana as a free agent afterwards previously and Phoenix, where she won two championships with taurasi in 2009 and 2014. “To play in front of that crowd … when I walked out, I was just like, ‘Oh, my God.’ I was a little shell-shocked.

“I always say I played with the Greatest of All Time in Diana.

Clark is just in her second season and fellow no. 1 Pick Boston in Her Third. But the two has helped turn the franchise. They combined with Guard Kelsey mitchell To get the fever back in the playoffs for the first time SINce 2016 Last year, which aided the team in luring free agents like bonner and Natasha HowardWHO 15 POINTS Saturday Along with Mitchell.

“This is a great first win, but we have 43 more games to go,” Boston Said. “So for us, it’s just about making sure that we look in, re-watch the game, look at what we need to work on.”