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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

This Wednesday, the Indiana Fever came to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to lock horns with the Washington Mystics. While the Fever is coming off their rookie’s historic feat, the Mystics are entering the arena, having lost four of their five last games. However, by the end of the second quarter of the matchup, the Fever was failing to keep up with expectations.

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This is largely due to the increasing number of turnovers. By the end of the first quarter, Clark’s team already had eight turnovers. Despite having an impressive 58% shooting accuracy from the floor, the Fever trailed as they entered the second quarter. This has led to growing frustration among the Fever’s players. “Caitlin Clark seems to be mocking Vanloo because she is flopping. She gets so heated lol,” the Trending Sports podcast penned on their official X account as Clark let the emotions get the better of her.

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The instance when Mystics guard Vanloo was keeping a tight check on the rookie. The Mystics point guard rushed to block Clark, who was positioned to receive the ball from Erica Wheeler. But she ended up hitting her head on Clark’s in the process, to which Clark responded by pushing her.

Clark could have proven crucial for the struggling Fever who trailed 33-23. She was even close to the ball when Vanloo distracted her from gripping a catch to make an attempt. But as nothing came of it, her frustration was directed at Vanloo. As the clip came out, spectators dove into the comment section to debate.

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Fan’s take on Clark’s frustration

While most X users were quite convinced by Clark’s actions, some even criticized her. One user wrote, “Christie Sides has no idea what she’s doing with the #Fever. This is a recording,” firing back at Fever’s coach Christie Sides. The Fever revealed their first five—Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, and Katie Lou Samuelson—right before the matchup.

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Basically, Hull was added in place of NaLyssa Smith. This is the third time the Indiana Fever have changed their starting lineup. “Coach Sides has started the game with my personal 5 starters,” added another user. The insertion of Lexie Hull was meant to give more guard play at the opening top for the Fever.

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But it did not seem to help as the Fever struggled to overcome the Mystics’ lead. “Getting blown out by Washington today,” penned a spectator. By halftime, Clark was limited by the Mystics to seven points and five rebounds. Her team, on the other hand, struggled with 12 turnovers.

However, some believed the Fever might come back in the game considering their previous records. “Washington calls a TO with 2:52 left in Q2 as they hold a 12-point lead over Indiana, 44-32. Turnovers have hurt Indiana, but they’ve closed the gap in points scored in Q2 (18 for Washington, 15 for Indiana),” added another spectator.

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Unfortunately, while the Fever did manage to close the gap by a fair margin and dominated the final quarter, it wasn’t enough to take down the fierce Mystics. As Fever notched 89-84, Clark finished the night with game-high 29 points.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.

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Yashika Dutta

2,141 Articles

Yashika Dutta is a Basketball Writer at EssentiallySports, covering the NCAA, WNBA, and Olympics. A member of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, she specializes in the high-stakes energy of college basketball, with features on the Big Ten Conference and the chaos of March Madness that bring fans right to the hardwood. Her coverage has even caught the attention of UConn coaches and Olympian Rori Dunk, earning her recognition for both accuracy and insight. A former state-level basketball player, Yashika channels her on-court experience into reporting that captures the game’s intensity beyond the box score. With a player’s sense of timing and a journalist’s instinct for storytelling, she shines a light on rising stars like Caitlin Clark and JuJu Watkins, while unpacking the pressures and triumphs that shape college hoops. Whether charting a Big Ten rivalry or chronicling the ethos of March Madness, Yashika connects fans to the heart of the game with energy and authenticity.

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Syed Nazeef

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