**INDIANAPOLIS** -- Caitlin Clark made history as the first rookie to record a triple-double in the WNBA, leading Indiana to an 83-78 victory over New York on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. This win snapped the Fever's nine-game losing streak against the Liberty.
Clark finished the game with 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds for Indiana (9-13). Just two games ago, she was one rebound shy of a triple-double in an 88-82 victory over the Phoenix Mercury.
"Obviously, it's really cool," Clark said. "My teammates have been finishing the ball really, really at a high rate. My assist numbers ... that's because of them."
Indiana coach Christie Sides praised Clark and the team's fourth-quarter performance.
"Caitlin with a triple-double, my gosh, that's incredible," she said. "Holding New York to 16 points in the fourth quarter, that's huge for us. That's the No. 1 team in the league."
Clark scored 11 points in the first quarter, making 3 of 4 from 3-point range. She reached double figures in assists in the third quarter and surpassed 10 rebounds in the fourth.
In the final minutes, Clark executed a three-point play, followed by a Kelsey Mitchell 3-pointer to tie the game at 75 with 2:31 remaining. Aliyah Boston then scored off a steal by Mitchell, giving Indiana a two-point lead. Lexie Hull's reverse layup extended the lead to 79-75 with 1:24 left.
New York's Sabrina Ionescu responded with a 3-pointer but missed her next attempt to take the lead. Boston secured the win with two free throws at 17 seconds, followed by Mitchell's two free throws with 11 seconds remaining.
New York struggled from beyond the arc, making only 10 of 42 attempts.
"We defended well the whole game," Boston said. "Those last few minutes, especially those last few possessions, were great for us."
Boston contributed 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds. Mitchell added 14 points, marking her ninth consecutive game in double figures. NaLyssa Smith, the second overall pick in the 2022 draft, posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Ionescu led New York (17-4) with 22 points. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added 20 points, hitting four 3-pointers. Breanna Stewart chipped in 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists, while Jonquel Jones had 12 rebounds, six points, and three steals.
Clark ignited an 8-0 run for Indiana at the start, highlighted by a 3-pointer and a layup. She turned a steal into another 3-pointer, giving the Fever their largest lead at 24-12 with 3:04 left in the first quarter. New York responded with a six-point run, closing the gap to six points by the end of the quarter.
Clark's turnaround fadeaway jumper extended Indiana's lead to 31-20 in the second quarter. However, a 12-0 run by New York, capped by Jones, gave the Liberty their first lead. Smith ended Indiana's scoring drought with a layup, putting the Fever back in front.
Stewart, averaging 22.7 points in three previous wins over the Fever, made two free throws in the final minute of the half, reducing New York's deficit to 39-38.
In the third quarter, Laney-Hamilton's jumper and Ionescu's basket and 3-pointer off a Stewart steal gave New York a 57-50 lead. Laney-Hamilton's pull-up jumper with three seconds left extended the Liberty's lead to 62-55 entering the final period.
Clark emphasized the Fever's resilience under pressure.
"I think the biggest difference has been when teams make runs, we don't crumble," Clark said. "We found a way to stay resilient and kind of close the gap."
New York coach Sandy Brondello was disappointed with her team's initial mindset.
"I didn't think we came out with the necessary urgency to compete. They're 6-4 in the last 10 games. They executed better than us down the stretch."
This victory marked Indiana's first win over New York since a 92-86 road win on May 13, 2022. The Fever lead the all-time series 50-41.
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