Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts to the officiating Saturday, May 24, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Fever arrive in close loss to defending WNBA champion Liberty

By Eric Smithling | Last updated May 24, 2025 4:28 PM ET

The Indiana Fever went toe-to-toe with the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty on Saturday. While coming out on the losing end of the 90-88 game, the Fever proved they belong in the league's upper-tier with their strong game against the WNBA's best team.

They hung with New York despite a subpar game from Fever guard Caitlin Clark, who scored 18 points on 6-of-18 shooting, including 2-of-11 from three-point range. Clark turned the ball over 10 times, her most since her WNBA debut against the Connecticut Sun on May 14, 2024.

She offset her turnover-filled afternoon with some excellent passes, with several to 2023 No. 1 overall pick Aliyah Boston, who scored a season-high 27 points while shooting 12-of-19.

Clark and Boston have developed outstanding chemistry and run an excellent two-woman set. Boston scored multiple times on Saturday after setting a screen for Clark then sliding toward the basket as Clark passed her the ball.

It's just automatic when Caitlin sees two on the ball. Timely slip from Aliyah Boston and, I'll say again, have really been impressed with her touch in the middle of the floor. pic.twitter.com/WCMUSjNuy8
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) May 24, 2025

The Fever had 20 assists as a team.

Below, they beat New York's zone defense with quick passes, giving forward Natasha Howard an easy look at the rim.

The Liberty have been dabbling in zone in spots today, but a poor rep here.

Natasha Howard cuts from left wing to right dunker. Flash from Aliyah Boston occupies both Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu.

Kennedy Burke has to navigate a 2v1 and loses. pic.twitter.com/MhmIhR54qx
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) May 24, 2025

Indiana had a chance to tie or take the lead on the game's last possession, but Liberty guard Natasha Cloud, who's been arguably New York's best player during its 3-0 start, came away with a game-clinching steal.

Caitlin Clark couldn't get a shot up on the last possession as Natasha Cloud stole the ball.

The New York Liberty secured their first 3-0 start to the season in franchise history pic.twitter.com/y2yPvZwM2c
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 24, 2025

The Liberty established that the WNBA runs through them, but the Fever were a worthy adversary. Indiana has worked its way up to the heavyweight division.

As solid as the Fever looked in Saturday's loss, it's only a matter of time before they deliver their own knockout punches.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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