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Caitlin Clark endured a nightmare against the Dream following stellar first quarter originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Saturday's rematch against the Atlanta Dream began ideally for Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.
Clark scored 13 points in the first quarter at State Farm Arena and didn't turn the ball over once in the opening 10 minutes. The Fever dropped 37 points in the frame and led by seven when it was over.
But that's where the fun ended for the Fever.
MORE: Angel Reese hauled in her 1,000th career rebound as only she could
The Dream set a franchise record for points in an eventual 113-96 win. After that first quarter, Atlanta outscored Indiana 83-59 -- and Clark, after scoring 13 in the first quarter, was held to 13 for the rest of the game, while sporting an ugly 7-7 assist-turnover ratio.
Despite scoring 26 points for the second successive game and at least 25 for the fourth time in five contests, Clark was a minus-19 in the 34 minutes she played of a 17-point loss.
It's reductive to say "the Fever would have won without Clark." The Dream is one of the best and most complete teams in the WNBA; the Fever to date has looked a cut below them.
But Saturday's loss will do nothing to quell continued big-picture debates about Clark, and specifically the trade-off between her explosive offensive ability and lacking defensive skill.
In addition, Clark's offensive impact will continue to have a defined ceiling until she overcomes her turnover problems.
With seven more against the swarming Dream defense on Saturday, Clark now has accrued a league-worst 72 turnovers in 15 games.
That puts Clark on pace for 206 turnovers, which would make her the first player in WNBA history to have two seasons with 200 or move turnovers in their career.
More WNBA news:
Wings' Azzi Fudd reveals Stephen Curry's role in Project B decision
Caitlin Clark's defense remains a topic of conversation after Fever's win streak ends
Angel Reese links up with Latto after Dream win, and fans loved every second of it
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese's latest on-court exchange quickly grabs attention during Fever-Dream matchup
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