While the Indiana Fever ended up beating the Minnesota Lynx by 19 points, things seemed to be going south for head coach Stephanie White’s side in the third quarter. Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve decided to becnh the starters and play the second unit, which threw the kitchen sink at them, chippin away at the Fever’s 23 point lead heading into the second half to just 7 points early in the fourth quarter.

While the Lynx outscored Indiana 30-14 in the third quarter, the Fever had an ace up their sleeve. MVP frontrunner Caitlin Clark took things under control in the fourth, and ex-ESPN host Linda Cohn highlighted her as the biggest factor for the home victory.

“So after everything Indiana had done in that first half, we go to the fourth quarter, and it’s 71-64 Fever. We have ourselves a game. Where’d that come from? And that’s when Caitlin Clark took over again. She’s like, ‘This is not happening here.'”

“Every time Minnesota reserves threatened to make this really interesting, Clark had an answer. How? Either a basket, either a pass. Boy, she had some remarkable passes. A steal. She had a bunch of those, too. A play that settled Indiana down,” Cohn said on her YouTube channel.

After last year’s injury-ridden season, nothing could have prepared the WNBA for what Clark was about to cook up in her third season. Time and again, the 24-year-old has been the Fever’s messiah this season, thanks to her insane overall proficiency. And that was the case against the Lynx, as Linda Cohn went on to praise Clark’s numbers at the end of the game.

“27 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and don’t forget about the four steals, and nine of 18 from the floor for Caitlin Clark. That’s a complete game. That’s showing up when it matters most.” Cohn added.

With Clark’s influence, the Fever comfortably outscored the Lynx 25-13 in the final quarter and won with the scoreline of 96-77. Clark once again showed the world that she can impact her team in multiple ways, be it scoring, passing, or even rebounding.

Clark has shifted into another gear recently, which is great as the WNBA playoffs approach rapidly. This is highlighted by the fact that Clark is now the first WNBA player to average 30 points and 10 assists over a five-game span. For context, Clark’s record can only be compared to the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, who also achieved this feat in the NBA.

Moreover, Clark has evolved her game as the season has gone by. The 24-year-old’s physicality has always been in question. But recently, Clark is “giving just as much as she gets,” according to head coach White.

And that gives Clark an advantage in receiving more attempts from the charity stripe. Before the game against the Lynx, Clark attempted at least 10 free throws in the Fever’s last two games.

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever will return to the hardwood on Thursday night for a rematch against the Minnesota Lynx. And after last night, the Fever will once again be favorites to win the game, especially if Lynx head coach Reeve plans to rest her starters again after already securing the top seed because the Valkyries lost to the Portland Fire in overtime.

While the Fever are currently fifth in the standings with a 28-15 record, they are still one of the favorites to win the championship this season. Stephanie White’s squad has thoroughly improved over the course of the season, powered by Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell’s backcourt partnership.

If the Fever continue with their momentum throughout the playoffs, then the championship might return to Indiana for the first time since 2012. As for Clark, the MVP is still up for debate because of the equally impressive seasons her competitors, A’ja Wilson and Olivia Miles, are also having.

Still, Clark will most likely be in the All-WNBA First Team and will hope to cap off her elite season with her first WNBA championship.