Caitlin Clark Choking on 2 Free Throws & OT Turnover Hands Aces Win Against Fever

Indiana Fever's superstar point guard Caitlin Clark turned the ball over eight times against the Las Vegas Aces.

Caitlin Clark Choking on 2 Free Throws & OT Turnover Hands Aces Win Against Fever

Media has been critical of Caitlin Clark whenever possible (Image via FTW/X)

After Caitlin Clark and her Indiana Fever lost to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx, fans felt that the team would fix their minor mistakes to ensure they do not lose their next game against the Las Vegas Aces.

The team had a good run of games last month, winning eight out of the ten they contested. Of the two they lost, only the one against the Golden State Valkyries was worth reflecting upon.

After the Lynx game, the team had four days to rethink their strategy against top teams. That is probably why the Fever took a slender lead in the first quarter against the Aces, and increased it slightly by halftime.

However, what they were not prepared for was how the away team would respond in the third quarter. Led by Jackie Young, the defending champions raced away to a 19-9 run in that quarter that completely shifted the game’s momentum.

Clark and the Fever responded in the fourth quarter and were up by three points with seven seconds left in the game. At that time, all the Iowa native had to do was convert both her free throws.

Kelsey Mitchell missed one of her trips to the line, which could have given the team a two-possession lead with time on their hands. But that did not hurt the Indianapolis-based team as much as Caitlin Clark’s misses.

The point guard is a career 87% shooter, but the first one ended up bouncing off the front of the rim, onto the backboard, and back out. The second one followed the same path and ended up in the hands of the Aces.

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Caitlin Clark’s turnovers proved costly

After those two misses, Aces guard Chelsea Gray calmly drained a three-pointer as the clock ran out. That was the first instance that Caitlin Clark‘s mistake cost them the game.

Chelsea Gray's game-winning shot
Chelsea Gray’s game-winning shot (Image via WNBA/X)

In overtime, the Indiana Fever tried to keep pace with the champions, and with a little more than 10 seconds left, were again a point ahead of their opponents.

All the team needed to do was to hold on to the ball and force the Aces to foul them. Instead, with the ball in her hands, Clark tried to create some offense. As she dribbled up the floor, reigning co-Defensive Player of the Year and league MVP A’ja Wilson switched onto her.

The 6’4″ star stayed steady and forced the Hawkeyes alum to try to pass the ball to her teammate. However, Wilson timed her interception well, got hold of the loose ball, and sent it ahead to Gray. The latter again calmly set her feet and drained the three-pointer that would win them the game.

Therefore, Caitlin Clark’s turnover became the second instance she cost the Fever the game. But it was not her first. She tallied eight turnovers in this game, which the Aces converted into 14 points.

Time and again, her turnovers have been a major subject of debate, and many have defended her. But in this game, it was clear that unless the 24-year-old takes care of the ball, her team could lose big games.

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Caitlin Clark takes accountability for loss

After the game, there was no doubt that reporters would ask Caitlin Clark about her mistakes. When one journalist asked specifically about the two missed free throws that could have won them the game, she said:

Obviously just can’t happen. And those are free throws I usually make. Certainly frustrating. One of them gives us a 2 possession lead and kind of cost my team there for sure, so that’s on me.

Clark replied

The USA Basketball superstar added in a follow-up question that her team did enough to win the game. But her costly errors and turnovers are what led to this loss. Clark reiterated that this loss is on her, as it is her job to avoid mistakes and place the team in a position to win.

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