The New York Liberty’s perfect 9-0 start to the 2025 WNBA season ended on Saturday with a 102-88 loss to the Indiana Fever. The game marked Caitlin Clark’s much-awaited comeback after missing five games with a quadriceps injury.
Clark’s return ignited a standout performance that fueled the Fever’s victory, while Sabrina Ionescu also delivered a strong showing for the defending champions. The matchup, driven by star power, drew widespread attention and dominated social media.
Caitlin Clark’s Comeback Snaps Liberty’s Streak, Ionescu Shares Her Thoughts
Caitlin Clark returned to the court after nearly three weeks sidelined with a left quadriceps strain and wasted no time making an impact. The Indiana Fever guard dropped 32 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including 7-of-14 from three-point range, while adding eight rebounds and nine assists in a 102-88 win over the previously unbeaten New York Liberty.
New York entered the game with a 9-0 record but could not keep pace in the second half. Despite a strong showing from Sabrina Ionescu, who scored a game-high 34 points on 11-of-20 shooting with two rebounds and four assists, the Liberty struggled to contain Clark’s offensive rhythm.
“I don’t think it’s defeating,” Ionescu said postgame. “I think obviously we know what a great shooter she (Clark) is, and I think we just gave her too many easy ones. Obviously, she has great range, and her ability to get her shot off is really impressive, especially with missing some games.”
“And so 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.”
Sabrina on Caitlin ❤️🩹
“She has great range and her ability to get her shot off is really impressive especially with missing some games. And so on a personal level I’m really happy to see her back out on the court healthy, feeling good…but just for her I’m happy she’s back.” pic.twitter.com/LXSjRufp8y
— correlation (@nosyone4) June 15, 2025
Ionescu joined head coach Sandy Brondello and Breanna Stewart in addressing reporters after the team’s first loss of the season. Reflecting on the Fever’s momentum, she added,
“Basketball’s a game of runs,” Ionescu said. “The same way we go on runs, they do as well. They’re a great team. I think we gave (Clark) too many easy ones.”
The Fever improved to 5-5 with the win, gaining a crucial Commissioner’s Cup tiebreaker and will meet the Connecticut Sun next. Meanwhile, the Liberty dropped to 9-1 and will look to rebound against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday.
Read More: Sabrina Ionescu Makes WNBA History Despite Liberty’s Blowout Loss vs. Caitlin Clark’s Fever
The Clark-Ionescu rivalry has now seen six meetings, with New York winning four. The two teams are set for back-to-back games at Barclays Center on July 16 and 22. With both franchises eyeing postseason contention, the upcoming matchups could carry significant weight.
