Caitlin Clark's 27-point playoff gem puts Indiana Fever on brink of WNBA semifinals
Iowa native Caitlin Clark delivered another postseason masterpiece Tuesday night, scoring 27 points and dishing out 15 assists to lead the Indiana Fever past the Las Vegas Aces in Game 2 of their WNBA playoff series. The win gives the Fever a 2-0 series lead and puts them one victory away from advancing to the semifinals.
Clark, the former University of Iowa superstar, fouled out with 2:45 remaining in regulation, but not before helping the Fever build a commanding 92-83 lead. Her 15 assists tied a career playoff high and set the tone for an Indiana offense that looked unstoppable in the fourth quarter.
How did Caitlin Clark perform against the Aces?
Clark was efficient and aggressive from the opening tip, knocking down a 3-pointer on the Fever's first possession of the game. She finished the night 9-of-18 from the field, including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc, and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
Her 15 assists came on a night when she consistently found open teammates, including a highlight-reel feed to Kelsey Mitchell for a layup and a long pass to Makayla Timpson in transition. Clark also grabbed 7 rebounds in 33 minutes of action.
Here is her full stat line from Tuesday night:
- Minutes: 33
- Points: 27
- Field goal shooting: 9-18
- 3-point shooting: 5-11
- Free throw shooting: 4-4
- Assists: 15
- Rebounds: 7
- Steals: 0
- Turnovers: 5
What did Clark do in Game 1 of the series?
In the series opener, which the Aces won 102-85, Clark scored 15 points and added 10 assists. Tuesday's performance was a significant step up in scoring production and helped the Fever avoid falling into an 0-2 hole on the road.
Caitlin Clark's career stats and Iowa legacy
Clark's 2026 regular season was one for the record books. She averaged 22.3 points, 8.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 44.6% from the field, 36.1% from 3-point range and 85.2% from the free throw line. Her stellar campaign earned her WNBA Comeback Player of the Year honors.
In 2025, Clark averaged 16.5 points and 8.8 assists in 13 games and was named an All-Star. Her rookie season in 2024 saw her post 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game, earning Rookie of the Year and first-team All-WNBA recognition.
For Iowa basketball fans, Clark's legacy remains unmatched. During her four years at the University of Iowa (2020-24), she scored an NCAA-record 3,951 points, led the Hawkeyes to two national championship games and earned two National Player of the Year awards.
What is Caitlin Clark's salary and contract status?
Clark's WNBA salary cap hit for 2026 is $528,846, according to Spotrac. The Fever hold an option for $597,596 in 2027, and she will become a restricted free agent in 2028. In 2025, under the previous collective bargaining agreement, she earned $78,066.
Who is Caitlin Clark's partner?
Clark is in a relationship with Connor McCaffery, who also played at the University of Iowa. McCaffery has worked for the Noblesville Boom, Indiana Pacers and Butler Bulldogs.
What's next for the Fever?
The Fever now return home with a chance to close out the series and advance to the WNBA semifinals. Game 3 is scheduled for later this week in Indiana, where Clark will look to continue her dominant postseason run in front of a home crowd.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star and has been adapted for Just The News Iowa readers.