Caitlin Clark struggles against reigning WNBA champions as Fever rookie finishes with just 8 points in loss to Aces

Caitlin Clark struggled against the defending WNBA champions as the Las Vegas Aces secured a 99-80 victory over the Indiana Fever on Saturday.

The rookie finished with just eight points, but provided seven assists and five boards as Indiana fell to 1-6 on the season.

In 29 minutes of play, Clark shot 2-for-5 from three-point territory, making two of her eight field goals.

Clark and the Fever came into Saturday’s game coming off their first win of the season against No. 2 Cameron Brink and the Sparks in Los Angeles.

Clark made up for a slow start by securing a 78-73 win for Indiana with two 3-pointers. Clark clocked a double-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t ride the momentum when the team made the trip to Sin City. After 40 minutes, the Aces’ championship experience proved overwhelming for a young Fever team.

Before the meeting, Aces coach Becky Hammon and center A’ja Wilson also criticized the media for creating stories about the rest of the league feeling animosity toward the rookie.

“I think this narrative of ‘everyone hates Caitlin Clark,’ and even the black-and-white stuff, is killing it,” Hammon said during a media bash on Friday. ‘It’s not there. So turn the sound off.’

“We love Caitlin Clark,” she emphasized, seemingly irritated by the assumption to the contrary. ‘I think she’s great. I watch every time I can.”

“Your questions are only annoying because she’s young,” Wilson interjected. “She’s a rookie. You’re asking us these questions as if she’s been a grown woman in this class for years.

‘No, she’s doing her job [and] we do ours. Ultimately, that’s how we grow. So yeah, I’m just exhausted from the conversation, because I know she’s exhausted, I can only imagine.”

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