Caitlin Clark’s unexpected admission on game-winning 3-pointer

Imagn Images

Caitlin Clark’s unexpected admission on game-winning 3-pointer

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Jun 9, 2026 3:23 PM ET

Caitlin Clark’s clutch gene showed up when the Indiana Fever needed it most Monday night against the Washington Mystics.

It looked like Indiana had the game well in hand. The Fever led by as many as 17 in the third quarter at CareFirst Arena. But Washington had other ideas. The Mystics clawed all the way back and held a one-point lead with 4.3 seconds left in regulation.

Out of a timeout, Clark freed herself off an Aliyah Boston screen and gathered a long cross-court inbounds pass from Sophie Cunningham. With zero hesitation, she rose and buried a 31-footer to seal a 78-76 victory and improve Indiana to 6-5.

Clark finished with 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field and 4-of-10 from 3-point range. The two-time All-Star added five assists, three rebounds two steals in 31 minutes.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) gets the crowd excited.

Caitlin Clark explains why she’d rather not be in a position to take a game-winning shot

Clark was on cloud nine after leading the Fever to victory. Still, she made an unexpected admission postgame. Cardiac moments like that one are not exactly her preference.

Being forced into a late heroic shot meant the Fever let a commanding lead slip. Clark did not shy away from saying so.

“If we would have started the third quarter a little bit better, especially on the defensive end, it would have put us in a position to not have to make a late game shot,” she said.

“Even though it was exciting for everybody in the arena, for you guys, and for everybody at home. I don’t always want to have to do that.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by WNBA on NBC and Peacock (@wnbaonnbc)

Clark made two clutch plays in the final seconds. Before the game-winning triple, she found Kelsey Mitchell with a well-timed assist on a fastbreak layup to retake the lead with 11 seconds left.

It was also a bounce-back performance for Clark. She entered the game shooting just 37.7% from the field and 32.4% from three-point territory.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: