Caitlin Clark and the young Indiana Fever were almost the opposite of what the New York Liberty had expected. With a packed Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday—including Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton among the 17,000 fans—Clark’s team made sure they pushed the defending champions right to the edge. Or more specifically, the 12-point fourth-quarter hole that made things tighter for the team despite 2024 WNBA Finals MVP Jonquel Jones’ presence. And while Jones did pull through in the end with a team-high 26 points, teammate Sabrina Ionescu didn’t hesitate to praise another star whose effort made the victory possible.

The Liberty entered the third quarter with a 9-point lead, but the Fever flipped the script, taking an 8-point advantage heading into the final quarter. Caitlin Clark sparked the surge by draining two threes, including a 33-foot buzzer-beater that helped her team take a 13-30 lead in the third quarter.

So, naturally, Ionescu was concerned: “It just shows us areas we need to continue to be better, like in the third quarter we should not be outscored 30 to 13. If we’re not, then this game is a completely different game.” Notably, Aliyah Boston also had a phenomenal performance, leading the team with 27 points with 13 rebounds. Any other day, and the Fever were sure to win. But thankfully, there’s a new star in town…

The Liberty’s recent signing, Natasha Cloud. Cloud joined the New York Liberty after being traded twice in the offseason, and her recent performances have already shown why she’s such a valuable piece—or maybe more of an antidote for Clark’s last-second antics.

“Everyone was so happy when she was able to come here and be a part of this team, and we trust in her and her ability to continue to get downhill,” said Ionescu in the postgame press conference. “She had a great offensive game as well—just pushing pace, getting the ball—while also guarding the best player on the other team. So I think it speaks volumes about her and her commitment to wanting to be great.”

Cloud ended the game with 16 points, 6 assists, 5 steals, and 7 rebounds—a stat line that’s impressive on its own. But what truly stood out was how she guarded Caitlin Clark. Cloud limited the Indiana superstar to just 6-of-18 shooting from the field and 2-of-11 from beyond the arc. Most notably, Cloud made the clutch defensive stop on the final play, sealing the win for the defending champions.

But it’s not just Clark whom Cloud stopped. She made sure she was covering every aspect by going against DeWanna Bonner as well. While many believe a call should have been there, as she disrupted Bonner’s layup attempt by getting into her face, Sabrina said it was just her playing with all her heart. “She had one against DeWanna Bonner that was a huge block at the rim, and then got a huge stop at the end [on Clark]… she plays with a lot of heart, and we know what we’re gonna get from her,” Ionescu said after the game.

And how could head coach Sandy Brondello stay quiet? To her, it must have seemed like Cloud heard the most when she asked the team to get it together after calling for a timeout. “[Natasha Cloud], we’ve never had anyone quite like her before. We have someone who can get downhill and finish, but also create. And she’s also one of the best defenders in the league,” the HC said, giving Cloud the credit where it was due.

But while the New York Liberty remained unbeaten, the game also exposed a significant weakness in the Fever’s lineup. Let’s take a closer look at that.

Caitlin Clark & Co. have a glaring weakness

The Fever have had a hectic start to their WNBA season, squeezing in four games over just eight days. Now, they finally get a much-needed break before hitting the road for their next challenge. Indiana will face the Washington Mystics on Wednesday, May 28—a few valuable days that should give coach Stephanie White and her squad time to regroup, recover, and address the issues that have surfaced early in the season.

There’s no question that Indiana’s backcourt is among the best in the league. With names like Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, and Sophie Cunningham, the guard rotation is loaded with talent and firepower. But when it comes to the frontcourt, things aren’t quite as solid. Outside of Aliyah Boston, production has been inconsistent.

Unsurprisingly, the Fever have struggled to contain dominant bigs in their recent losses. Jonquel Jones poured in 26 points, including a massive fourth quarter where she outscored Indiana by herself. Just before that, it was Brittney Griner lighting them up with 21 points in Atlanta’s win. It’s becoming a pattern, and one that Coach Stephanie White will need to address quickly. If Indiana has championship aspirations, finding a way to slow down elite post players has to be a top priority.

It’s still early in the season, and the pieces are just starting to come together. With a new head coach and several fresh faces on the roster, including veterans like DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, Sydney Colson, and Sophie Cunningham, there’s naturally going to be a learning curve. Bonner hasn’t quite hit her stride yet, but once she does, the Fever should improve, especially on the defensive end against dominant frontcourt players. It’s a work in progress, but there’s reason to believe things will click as the team settles in.