The Indiana Fever handed the New York Liberty their first loss of the season on June 14, with Caitlin Clark leading the way in a near triple-double performance in her return from a quad injury.
During the second quarter of the Fever’s win, Clark called for a one-on-one against Breanna Stewart and drained a deep 3-pointer over the Liberty forward with seconds remaining on the shot clock. The two stars shared a laugh and a moment of mutual respect as they jogged back down the court.
A few days later, Stewart offered her perspective on the viral exchange, which has been making its rounds on social media.
Breanna Stewart Breaks Down Moment With Caitlin Clark
In a video posted by “The Local W,” Stewart spoke with reporters after a June 16 practice to discuss all things related to the Liberty. She was asked whether she had reflected on that viral moment with the Fever star.
The two-time WNBA MVP echoed a sentiment previously shared by Sue Bird earlier this season, commenting on one of Clark’s on-court tendencies. The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year is known for driving left before pulling up for one of her signature logo 3-pointers.
“In the moment, it was like, shot clock was going down right? I know she wants to go left to shoot the 3, so trying to be as close as I can, but she was deep out there. And once she made it, she was kind of like laughing and I was laughing,” Stewart said.
“It was a great shot,” she added.
After drilling the deep 3-pointer near the Gainbridge Fieldhouse logo, over Stewart’s outstretched arms, Clark turned and stuck out her tongue. The Indiana crowd erupted, and Stewart couldn’t help but smile right back at her.
Caitlin Clark stepback on Breanna Stewart 🥶
Caitlin let her hear it 😂 pic.twitter.com/QDe3YoeraE
— ESPN (@espn) June 14, 2025
The two-time WNBA Finals MVP said with a sly smirk, “I’m happy I’m seeing a lot of great sportsmanship.”
Stewart and Clark went head-to-head during the game, but it was Clark who delivered the standout performance and walked away with the win. The Fever star posted 32 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds while knocking down seven three-pointers in Indiana’s 102–88 victory over New York.
Stewart finished with 24 points and five rebounds but received plenty of help from teammate Sabrina Ionescu, who added 34 points in the loss. Speaking of Ionescu, she had an interesting take on Clark after the game.
The Liberty star spoke highly of Clark, “On a personal level, I’m really happy to see her back out on the court healthy, feeling good… just for her, I’m happy she’s back.”
The two teams are set to meet again in Brooklyn on July 16, followed by a second matchup nearly a week later on July 22, both being must-see games as the Fever visit the defending champions. Stewart, Ionescu, and the rest of the Liberty will be looking to avenge their first loss of the season in these highly anticipated rematches.
Great sportsmanship by Stewart.