The preseason was supposed to be about reps. Rhythm. Preparation.
But for the Indiana Fever, it became something else entirely.
It became a statement.
A rookie nearly benched.
A fourth-quarter eruption.
A quiet player turning into a dagger.
And in the end—a perfect 3–0 preseason finish that has the rest of the WNBA on high alert.
Led by Caitlin Clark’s logo bombs and Lexie Hull’s fourth-quarter fireworks, Indiana didn’t just win their final game—they threw down a challenge. A 81–76 victory over the Atlanta Dream that felt more like a playoff warning than a preseason exhibition.
A Scare Before the Storm
The drama started before the opening tip.
Just 24 hours before Indiana faced Atlanta, rumors swirled that Clark had suffered a minor leg injury in practice—a collision with a scout team player that reignited concerns about a previously strained leg.
Fever fans flooded social media, refreshing feeds, hunting for updates.
Would she sit?
Would the Fever risk their most valuable asset in a meaningless game?
Then came the announcement:
Clark would play—and she would start.
What happened next silenced every doubt.
She Pulled Up From 36 Feet
Early in the first quarter, with the game still finding its rhythm, Clark caught the ball just inside the half-court line.
She didn’t hesitate.
She didn’t check her feet.
She launched.
She stepped into it without hesitation. A full 36 feet. The crowd gasped—but didn’t make a sound. For a second, the gym froze.
The ball rose like a flare into the air.
And when it snapped through the net, it wasn’t just three points—it was a declaration.
By halftime, she’d tallied 13 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds in just 23 minutes.
“She’s shooting the deep ones like they’re nothing,” one analyst posted.
“I think her range just got scarier.”
And that was with a bruised leg.
