Caitlin Clark's Missed Free Throws Seal Fever's 20-Point Collapse Against Aces
Skip Bayless has called out Caitlin Clark after the Indiana Fever's stunning 86-84 overtime loss to the Las Vegas Aces. The veteran sports commentator placed the blame directly on the Fever star, citing two costly mistakes in the closing seconds.
Skip Bayless has been a vocal supporter of Caitlin Clark throughout the season, but his criticism this time stood out. Clark had a productive night with 20 points and eight assists, but her miscues in the final minutes overshadowed her performance. Bayless wrote on X, "This awful home loss is on Caitlin. Missed both clinching free throws late in reg, then terrible turnover late in OT. Chelsea Gray made her pay both times with stunning clutch 3s, to tie at the buzzer then win it at the buzzer."
The Fever held a 75-72 lead when Clark went to the free-throw line with seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Making either attempt would have forced Las Vegas to score twice in the final seconds. However, Clark missed both, giving the Aces a chance to tie the game. Gray took advantage, burying a 3-pointer as time expired to send the game to overtime.
Clark received another opportunity to help Indiana close the game in overtime. The Fever led 84-83 with seven seconds remaining and had possession, but Clark's pass was intercepted. Las Vegas again put the ball in Gray's hands, and she delivered another 3-pointer at the buzzer, completing the comeback.
The defeat was particularly damaging because Indiana had controlled such a large portion of the contest. Blowing a 20-point lead would have been difficult enough to accept, but the Fever also had separate opportunities to put the game away in regulation and overtime. The result gave Indiana its second consecutive defeat following a five-game winning streak.
The Fever dropped to 19-12 and remained sixth in the WNBA standings after recently climbing as high as fourth. Clark and Indiana will not have much time to dwell on the collapse, as they are scheduled to face the Chicago Sky on Saturday before meeting the New York Liberty on Tuesday.
Bayless' criticism of Clark is notable because he has been one of her most vocal supporters throughout the season. Earlier, he defended Clark after she earned her third WNBA Player of the Week award, using the announcement to address players he believed had disrespected her.
The Fever's loss marks a harsh reminder that the biggest stars often receive the most blame when a game slips away. Clark will have the chance to bounce back and redeem herself in the coming games, but for now, the focus is on the collapse against the Aces.
Source: Yahoo Sports