On a steamy Tuesday night in Boston, the Indiana Fever pulled off a gutsy 83-78 win over the Connecticut Sun in front of a sold-out TD Garden crowd. But while the scoreboard showed victory, all eyes were on Caitlin Clark—who finally caught fire late in the game after a rocky start, only to end the night in visible pain.

This was a showdown packed with emotion, grit, and turning points.

Clark, the Fever’s electrifying rookie sensation and No. 1 overall draft pick, struggled mightily for most of the night. Coming into the game shooting a dismal 1-for-32 from three-point range on the road, she looked off rhythm early—turning the ball over three times in the first half and shooting just 2-for-8 through three quarters.

But when the lights shined brightest, Clark flipped the script.

With Indiana clinging to a slim lead in the fourth, she erupted for nine of her 14 total points in the final period, including a long-awaited three-pointer that sent the Fever bench into a frenzy. Her passing and playmaking remained on point throughout—Clark finished with six assists and several sharp feeds to Aaliyah Boston and Natasha Howard in tight traffic.

That said, this game wasn’t just about Clark’s late surge. It was a team effort, highlighted by Tina Charles dominating for Connecticut early, scoring a team-high 19 points and grabbing another career double-double. Her veteran poise and paint presence kept the Sun within striking distance all night.

Sayiah Rivers, the rookie guard out of NC State, also impressed with her relentless defense on Clark and key buckets down the stretch. Sophie Cunningham added hustle, timely scoring, and contagious energy for Indiana, especially with her sharp baseline cuts and free throw contributions.

Still, the Fever’s early perfection from the field—starting the game 8-for-8—felt like a distant memory when Connecticut clawed back with a furious 10-0 second-quarter run to take the lead.

Then came the game’s emotional pivot.

Late in the fourth, with just under two minutes remaining, Clark hit a high-arching three-pointer that put Indiana up for good. Moments later, though, she was seen limping, favoring her right leg, and ultimately left the court visibly upset. Cameras caught her wincing and holding the groin area she previously injured earlier in the season.

While the Fever held on for the win and improved to 12-10 on the season, concern swirled immediately around Clark’s status—especially with the All-Star Weekend just days away, where she’s slated to headline the three-point contest and Team Clark in the main event.

If she’s unable to play, it would be a major blow not only to Indiana but to the WNBA’s marquee weekend.

Meanwhile, Aaliyah Boston, despite struggling to score for most of the game, came alive late with big buckets and pinpoint assists. Her physical play against Charles, combined with timely defense and elite rebounding, helped seal the deal for Indiana.

Stephanie White, the Fever’s head coach, praised her team’s resilience: “We weren’t perfect, but we stayed aggressive. That’s the kind of response we need when shots aren’t falling early.”

Connecticut, now 3-19, continues to search for answers. Though they’ve battled in recent weeks and showed flashes of cohesion, the inability to finish games—especially against playoff-caliber opponents—is becoming a painful theme.

And for Caitlin Clark, the final seconds of this game might prove pivotal. Her heroics reminded fans why she’s a once-in-a-generation talent. But if the injury proves serious, Indiana may have to recalibrate its hopes for the second half of the season.

As it stands, the Fever fly to New York next for a back-to-back against the Liberty. Whether Clark boards that plane—and in what condition—could define their momentum heading into the break.

One thing’s certain: the basketball world is watching.