Clark Nabs First WNBA Win as Late Threes Help Lift Fever

Fever guard Caitlin Clark, left, passes around Sparks guard Layshia Clarendon during the first half of Indiana's 78-73 win Friday at Crypto.com Arena. Clark finished with 11 points in the win. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
Fever guard Caitlin Clark, left, passes around Sparks guard Layshia Clarendon during the first half of Indiana's 78-73 win Friday at Crypto.com Arena. Clark finished with 11 points in the win. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
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Clark Nabs First WNBA Win as Late Threes Help Lift Fever

Fever guard Caitlin Clark, left, passes around Sparks guard Layshia Clarendon during the first half of Indiana's 78-73 win Friday at Crypto.com Arena. Clark finished with 11 points in the win. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
Fever guard Caitlin Clark, left, passes around Sparks guard Layshia Clarendon during the first half of Indiana's 78-73 win Friday at Crypto.com Arena. Clark finished with 11 points in the win. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)

Women's basketball sensation Caitlin Clark drilled a dagger three-pointer to help the Indiana Fever notch their first win of her debut WNBA season Friday, 78-73 over the Los Angeles Sparks.

Clark, whose record-setting exploits in collegiate basketball brought unprecedented attention to the women's game, has struggled since Indiana made her the number one pick in the NBA draft.

She endured another tough shooting night on Friday, but finished with her first WNBA double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds -- and provided the kind of fireworks her fans have come to expect.

After Rickea Jackson had cut the Sparks' deficit to three with a big three-pointer with 2:27 to play, Clark answered with her first three-pointer of the night, AFP reported.

Los Angeles had pulled within two when Clark hit another three-pointer with 40.5 seconds remaining that put Indiana up 76-71 and effectively snuffed out the Sparks' challenge.

She had eight assists and four steals to help Indiana erase an 11-point halftime deficit.

Clark and the Fever had opened the season with five straight defeats.

Even so, her drawing power remained undeniable and the crowd of 19,103 at Crypto.com Arena was a record for the Sparks.

Kelsey Mitchell scored 18 points to lead Indiana with Aliyah Boston and Temi Fagbenle adding 17 points apiece.

The Sparks lineup also boasted some of the WNBA's newest stars in second draft pick Cameron Brink and fourth-pick Jackson.

Center Dearica Hamby led the Sparks with 18 points and 12 rebounds while Brink added 15 points and nine rebounds and Jackson scored 16 points off the bench.



Barcelona Inches Closer to Madrid Rivals in Spanish League with 4-1 Win at Sevilla

Barcelona's Polish forward #09 Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Spanish league football match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville on February 9, 2025. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)
Barcelona's Polish forward #09 Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Spanish league football match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville on February 9, 2025. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)
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Barcelona Inches Closer to Madrid Rivals in Spanish League with 4-1 Win at Sevilla

Barcelona's Polish forward #09 Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Spanish league football match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville on February 9, 2025. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)
Barcelona's Polish forward #09 Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Spanish league football match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville on February 9, 2025. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)

Barcelona is making sure there will be a three-way fight for the Spanish league title.
The Catalan club moved closer to rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the top of the standings on Sunday by routing Sevilla 4-1, The Associated Press reported.
Robert Lewandowski, Fermín López, Raphinha and Eric García scored a goal each as Barcelona took advantage of the 1-1 draw between Madrid and Atletico in the capital derby on Saturday.
Third-placed Barcelona is now two points behind leader Madrid and one point behind Atletico.
Barcelona had a comfortable away win despite playing with 10 men from the 62nd when López was sent off for a hard foul. The red card was shown after a video review.
It was the third straight league win for Barcelona, and its ninth victory in 11 matches across all competitions.
Sevilla, in 13th place, has won only one of its last five league games.
Lewandowski put Barcelona ahead in the seventh minute with his eighth goal in his last nine games in all competitions. Ruben Vargas equalized a minute later for the hosts before López put Barcelona back in front in the 46th. Raphinha added to the lead in the 55th and García sealed the win in the 89th.
“We needed to win to stay in contention and put some pressure on our rivals,” Barcelona defender Iñigo Martínez said. “The team is playing with a lot of confidence right now and we know that we can still improve. We need to stay on this track.”
Defender Jules Koundé made his 124th appearance for Barcelona, equaling the mark of Ludovic Giuly in fifth place for the most appearances for Barcelona by a French player. Éric Abidal tops that list with 193 appearances.
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo had to be substituted about 20 minutes into the match with a right ankle injury.