WNBA Playoffs: Caitlin Clark shines in Fever win as A’ja Wilson confronts fan after Cunningham foul | WNBA

All Caitlin Clark wanted was one more chance to play this season. She delivered a masterpiece. The All-Star guard scored 27 points, had 15 assists, broke new ground and provided energy on both ends of the court to help keep the sixth-seeded Indiana Fever’s playoff run alive with a 99-89 victory over the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. Kelsey Mitchell added 26 points as the crowd chanted “MVP” throughout the game.

Indiana evened the best-of-three series at 1-1. The third match will be played Thursday in Las Vegas.

Clark became the first player in league history to produce a double-double in points and assists in the first half of a playoff game. She had 14 points and 11 assists in the first 20 minutes, and it wasn’t just her scoring or assists that impressed.

“I thought her energy from start to finish — I mean a double-double in the first half — was pretty amazing,” coach Stephanie White said. “The way she moved the ball, attacked from multiple positions… You always expect to be able to shoot and facilitate. But I thought the way she handled the game was really good and her defensive energy was great. That’s what we need from her.”

What Fever and Aces didn’t need was the fourth-quarter incident between a fan and four-time league MVP A’ja Wilson. The two appeared to be pointing fingers and yelling at each other after Sophie Cunningham made a mistake. Wilson walked toward the seats and two teammates, an assistant coach and security moved in to break up the scrum.

“If I see a man coming at me, taking steps towards me and pointing at me…I don’t care what you said…It’s unacceptable…I’m not for that shit,” Wilson said after the game.

Wilson was assessed a technical foul for leaving the field, but was not ejected. The man was escorted away by security but was allowed to return because Fever said he did not violate the fan code of conduct policy.

“I didn’t see exactly what happened, I kind of saw the aftermath,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “I’ve never seen A’ja Wilson act like that, so whatever was done, I can tell you she felt very disrespected in that moment. I’ve never seen her really react like that, so whatever it was, it has no place, I don’t think it’s in an arena.”

The incident seemed to motivate Las Vegas, which trailed 90-79 when the incident occurred at the 4:10 mark, and when Clark fouled out with 2:45 left, the Aces closed to within 92-87. But the Fever managed to hang on.

“The way I saw it, your back is against the wall,” Clark said. “That’s the one opportunity you’re guaranteed to get, is those 40 minutes, and you know you’re going to lose yourself if you’re going to lose. But I think we had the mentality like this is the one we’re going to win, no matter what, and do it for our fans.”