Caitlin Clark Records Double-Double, Fever Comeback Falls Short Against Mystics

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Caitlin Clark became the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double in the Indiana Fever's biggest win of the season on Saturday against the New York Liberty. 

That put them in position for the classic "letdown game" on Wednesday afternoon at home against the Washington Mystics. And let down they did. 

In a WNBA yearly tradition, several teams host afternoon games to allow young girls at summer camps to attend games while on vacation from school.

The Fever are one of those teams and had a noon tip against the Mystics, one of three teams tied for the worst record in the WNBA. The Fever entered the game as 5.5-point favorites, but fell into a 21-point hole in the second half. 

Caitlin Clark posted her fourth-straight double-double and strong stats across the board and keyed a massive Fever comeback in the fourth quarter. 

Caitlin Clark recorded a 29-point double-double against the Washington Mystics, but the Indiana Fever couldn't recover from 21-point deficit.

Caitlin Clark recorded a 29-point double-double against the Washington Mystics, but the Indiana Fever couldn't recover from a 21-point deficit.

(Justin Casterline/NBAE via Getty Images)

They trailed by 21 points to enter the final frame, but roared all the way back to cut the deficit to three points. 

Clark put on a show for the many young girls in attendance, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter. She finished with 29 points, 13 assists, 5 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 blocks. 

Despite the furious comeback, the Mystics managed to hang on in the closing seconds for just their sixth win of the season. 

Once again, though, Clark showed just why she's such a great basketball player. Despite a very frustrating first three quarters, she came alive in a big way in the fourth quarter. 

She had that look in her eye that she just wasn't going to be stopped, and the Mystics really didn't have an answer.

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Ultimately, though, the deficit was just too much to overcome. Still, the Fever currently sits in playoff position, one game ahead of the Atlanta Dream for the eighth and final WNBA playoff spot. 

There's a lot of season left to play, but Clark has helped push a team that finished five games outside the playoff picture last season into a position to reach the postseason. 

And she just keeps getting better. 

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Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to OutKick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named "Brady" because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.