The Indiana Fever suffered another tough loss, falling to the New York Liberty 109-102 on Saturday night. The Fever remained within touching distance for most of the game but could not complete the comeback at the Barclays Center.
Caitlin Clark had a tough night with key late misses that hurt the team’s chances. However, teammate Aliyah Boston believes Clark has done enough to earn the MVP honor this season.
Aliyah Boston Backs Fever Star Caitlin Clark for MVP HonorAfter their recent defeat to the Dallas Wings, the loss to the Liberty could affect Indiana’s chances of a better playoff seed. Both the Liberty and the Wings are among the teams competing with the Fever for a favorable seed, making these recent games even more important.
Stephanie White’s squad had a chance to secure a big win today, but fell short despite making a late push. Clark had a hand in the disappointing result, as her missed free throws and a costly foul in the final moments proved to be the turning point in the defeat.
However, Boston continued to support Clark and Kelsey Mitchell when asked about their MVP chances.
Making it clear that both players have done enough to be part of the conversation, Boston explained that the way opponents defend Clark and Mitchell makes their performances even more impressive.
“I mean, teams guard them differently. They’re sending everyone. The ball pressure is so different, and they’re consistently putting up these numbers. So I feel like there’s not really much of a campaign. I feel like when you look at the numbers, you look at the way the team starts, it’s clear as day.”
Clark finished the game with 21 points while shooting 9-of-18 from the field, 2-of-6 from three-point range, and 1-of-4 from the free-throw line. She also contributed 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal in 35 minutes.
Mitchell once again came up with the goods for Indiana at the Barclays Center. She scored 25 points and extended her streak of consecutive 20-point games to 22, continuing the record run she created after scoring 37 points against the Wings.
The Fever managed to fight back after falling behind by 10 points in the fourth quarter, but Mitchell’s efforts fell short in fueling a comeback against New York.
Indiana’s recent schedule has also tested the team physically. The team has played four games in six days while traveling from Atlanta to Toronto, then Dallas, and finally New York.
Two of the biggest games during this difficult stretch ended in losses, putting more pressure on Indiana’s final games of the road trip.
Clark and Co. will now finish the trip with another back-to-back game against the Chicago Sky on Sunday night. Despite their 15-22 record, the Sky cannot be taken lightly, considering their wins over the Golden State Valkyries and the Liberty this week.
With the playoffs approaching, Indiana cannot afford another slow start or missed opportunity.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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