The New York Liberty were handed their first loss of the season yesterday. And just like that, no team in the WNBA is undefeated anymore. First, Seattle cracked the Lynx. Soon after, Indiana said, “Hold my Gatorade,” and absolutely lit Gainbridge up. The last time Liberty faced Fever, it ended in an ugly blowout and a bruised-up, Clark-less roster. They fell short by just 2 points after CC had to exit the game in the 2nd quarter. Maybe, just maybe, if that hadn’t happened, New York’s perfect record would’ve cracked a whole lot sooner.

However, moving on, it’s better late than never, and that’s the mindset the Fever struck back with. And in front of that attitude, the Liberty fell short. They were overcommitting on defending Boston and Clark, and the Fever used that flaw to swing the ball to open shooters behind the arc. As Caitlin Clark herself admitted, “On the PnR they really slid over and helped, which led to us having open threes on the backside.” After detecting this switch-heavy approach of New York, Clark nailed seven threes, including three straight in 38 seconds, and bagged a total of 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists in 31 minutes.

Even the rival Point Guard, Sabrina Ionescu, couldn’t hold back from crediting Caitlin Clark in the postgame presser. Though she looked heartbroken, she admitted it openly. “She has great range, and her ability to get her shot off is really impressive, especially with missing some games.” And she wasn’t wrong. Clark shot 7-of-13 from three. Moreover, several of those were from well beyond the arc. All of it despite this being her first game back after a five-game absence. Also, what Sabrina added told everyone why Clark had once given her rival the ultimate praise.

Ionescu added, “And so on a personal level, I’m really happy to see her back out on the court healthy, feeling good…but just for her, I’m happy she’s back.” As a sportswoman and a friend, Sabrina Ionescu was able to perfectly handle that situation with nothing but grace. After all, her bond with Caitlin Clark stretches far beyond the rivalry on the court. Back in 2024, Clark didn’t hesitate to name Ionescu as her basketball idol and player comparison on draft night.

To this, Sabrina Ionescu responded with mentorship. “I mean, she’s just starting her career… how she’s been able to push the game forward is amazing,” she said. She even added that she’s “always rooting for her.” It’s popular that their relationship has been built on genuine admiration. Remember when Sabrina paid a surprise visit to Caitlin and the Iowa Hawkeyes at their Final Four preparation in Cleveland? She gifted the entire team Nike gear, including her signature Sabrina 1 shoes! But their bond began long before, honestly.

When Caitlin Clark was deciding which college to choose, Oregon had already extended a hand. So, she decided to pay them a visit. What happened there was that an overly excited Sabrina kept following Clark around, in hopes of actually recruiting her. And while Clark eventually chose Iowa, it was the path Ionescu created in Eugene that continues to inspire her to this day. So this return of Caitlin Clark against Sab’s Liberty was not just about winning or losing; it was an addition to an already rich friendship.

22 Hours for Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark has been driving the WNBA’s surge in popularity all season. However, she was caught off guard when she found out five fans flew all the way from Hong Kong just to see her play in person. It was a tiring 22-hour trip for them, but with the motivation to witness CC’s greatness live, it surely must’ve felt more like 2 hours. But CC didn’t take that lightly.

After putting up a monster stat line of 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists in the Fever’s 102-88 upset over the previously undefeated Liberty, Caitlin Clark got emotional during her postgame press conference. When reporters told her about the dedicated travelers. “I wish I could’ve met them,” she said, her voice was full of genuine appreciation. “If you know them, tell them ‘thank you for coming.’ That’s incredible… Tell them I say hello and thanks for coming as well.”

The Fever’s social media team even shared the heartwarming moment online. And fans immediately rallied in the comments to praise Clark’s down-to-earth response. This isn’t some isolated moment, though. Clark’s global influence keeps growing. The international viewership on WNBA League Pass has skyrocketed by 168% this season, with league insiders pointing directly to Clark’s arrival.

Her jersey outsells every other player worldwide, and in Asia, she even made to Weibo’s top 10 most-searched athletes list back in May. When a reporter asked if she’d ever consider visiting Hong Kong, Clark’s face lit up. “I certainly hope to go to Hong Kong one day. That’s incredible to see the type of reach that we can have and how much people love basketball across the globe,” she said. Sure, she’s playing her home games in Indiana these days, but let’s be real, Caitlin Clark isn’t just a rookie phenom anymore. She’s a full-blown global icon.