Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been sidelined for the entire season due to a lingering groin injury that plagued her throughout the year. Eventually, the team announced she would not return to the court this season, focusing instead on her recovery. Despite being unable to play, Clark has remained a visible presence, supporting her teammates from the bench during their postseason series against the Atlanta Dream.
Her leadership from the sidelines has been a valuable source of motivation for the Fever. Known for her competitive spirit and outspokenness, Clark has continued to voice her frustrations over what she perceives as unfair treatment from referees, not only in the playoffs but throughout the regular season.
A smart and well-executed game from the Fever
With both Clark and Sophie Cunningham absent due to injuries, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell stepped up in a major way. Together, they combined for 34 points to lead Indiana to a decisive 77-60 victory over Atlanta in Game 1.
The Fever’s defense was just as impressive as their offense. They held the Dream to a mere 22-of-66 shooting from the field and limited them to only 24 points in the paint.
The win carried added emotional weight for the team, especially for the injured players who have been supporting their teammates from the sidelines. That collective energy was captured in a post-game celebration shared on social media, highlighting the passion and determination fueling the Fever’s postseason run.
A post-game celebration and a bold comment
When the final buzzer sounded, emotions spilled over. A video posted on Instagram showed players leaping off the bench and rushing toward the court to celebrate. In the clip, a referee can be seen attempting to keep them within the bench area. The post was captioned, “the bench was ROCKIN’ tonight.”
Clark quickly joined the celebration virtually, leaving a comment that immediately caught fans’ attention. In a remark mixing humor with frustration over the season’s officiating, she wrote, “Refs couldn’t stop us.” The comment was widely interpreted as a jab at what she believes has been inconsistent and unfair refereeing throughout the year.
Fever fans flooded the comments section with reactions.
They were not horrible tonight.
One fan noted.
Another added bluntly,
Broooo you gonna be FINED for thiiis.
One more chimed in with,
say it louder CC.
Eyyy careful now,
Another user warned.
And one supporter tagged her directly, writing,
@caitlinclark22 Let them know!!
The Fever and Dream will meet again on Thursday at Gateway Center Arena @ College Park.
Although Game 2 will be played on Atlanta’s home court, Indiana fans are hoping their bench will once again provide the energy and drive to push the team to another win, just as they did in the series opener. Most importantly, they hope that same unity and intensity will help secure a crucial victory on the road.
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