Barstool Sports founder and Indiana Fever supporter Dave Portnoy openly addressed Caitlin Clark’s recent drop in performance on Sunday via X, emphasizing the team’s difficulties when Clark is off her game. Portnoy acknowledged Aliyah Boston’s strong efforts during Clark’s downturn and urged the Fever to regain their winning momentum. The Caitlin Clark performance slump has become a focal point for the Fever’s recent struggles on the court.
Following Indiana’s 88-71 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, the Fever have dropped their last two contests. Clark has failed to score 20 points in both subsequent games, including a subdued performance against the Golden State Valkyries, where she managed just 11 points on poor shooting. In that matchup, she connected on only 3 of 14 attempts overall and missed all seven three-point shots.
The Fever lost an 89-81 game to the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday after squandering a halftime lead. Clark recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists but continued to struggle from the field, going 7 of 20 with only one made three-pointer on ten attempts. Meanwhile, Aliyah Boston emerged as the team’s leading scorer, putting up 17 points against the Valkyries and an impressive 26 versus the Aces, helping keep Indiana competitive despite Clark’s shooting woes.
Clark Accepts Accountability After Indiana Fever Surrender Lead in Loss to Aces
During Sunday’s contest, the Indiana Fever controlled the pace in the first half, holding a six-point advantage over the Las Vegas Aces. However, the Aces reversed momentum in the second half and secured an 89-81 win. Following the game, both Clark and Boston spoke at the postgame press conference, with Clark accepting responsibility for the team’s unraveling play down the stretch.
“We’ve kind of just shot ourselves in the leg consistently doing that,” Clark said (0:10). “We turned the ball over. We fouled a lot. Those are just easy points for them. I think that had 18 from our turnovers and that mostly falls on me.”
—Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever guard
The turnovers and fouls allowed the Aces to capitalize on easy scoring opportunities, undermining the Fever’s strong start. Clark’s self-criticism highlights her awareness of the role her mistakes have played in the team’s recent struggles, intensifying the spotlight on her performance slump. The Fever now face an important test as they prepare to take on the Seattle Storm on Tuesday, where a rebound from Clark will be crucial to improving their record.
Aliyah Boston Shines as Fever’s Key Contributor Amid Clark’s Difficult Stretch
With Clark’s shooting inconsistent, Aliyah Boston’s contributions have been vital to Indiana’s ability to remain competitive. Boston’s scoring surged in the last two games, stepping up as the team’s top scorer. Her 17 points against the Valkyries and 26 against the Aces demonstrated her growing influence and reliability during a period when the Fever have struggled to find consistent offensive production from their star guard.
Implications for Indiana Fever’s Future Prospects and Team Effort
The Caitlin Clark performance slump underscores Indiana Fever’s reliance on her offensive production, as their struggles to win coincide closely with her off nights. Portnoy’s critique and Clark’s own admission suggest the team must tighten its execution to avoid repeating mistakes like turnovers and poor shooting. Meanwhile, the support from players like Aliyah Boston offers hope that the Fever can rally to regain their form in upcoming games. Their clash with the Seattle Storm will serve as a critical opportunity for Clark to regain her rhythm and for the team to halt their recent losing streak.
“CC Stat line doesn’t tell the story. Great couple games for Caitlin haters. As bad a half as I’ve seen her have. When she’s off it’s really hard for them to win. Turnovers. Bad shooting. The works. Lone bright spot. Aliyah was great. Gotta bounce back,” Portnoy tweeted.
—Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports founder and Indiana Fever fan