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Caitlin Clark Torches Liberty With Insane First Quarter Shooting Spree After Injury

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is already back to cooking her opponents after returning from a quad injury.
Grant Young|
May 24, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) attempts a 3-pointer against New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) on during a game between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith/USA Today Network via Imagn Images
May 24, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) attempts a 3-pointer against New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) on during a game between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith/USA Today Network via Imagn Images | Grace Smith-Imagn Images

The Indiana Fever are facing the undefeated WNBA defending champion New York Liberty at their home court, Gainbridge Fieldhouse arena, on June 14. But the biggest story heading into this game was star guard Caitlin Clark making her return after missing the past five games because of a left quad strain she suffered when the Fever played the Liberty on May 24.

There was some question about how Clark would look in her first game in three weeks, specifically about whether she might have to shake off any rust when it comes to her scoring and playmaking.

But Clark quickly proved that would not be the case, as she immediately started cooking as soon as the game began. No. 22 finished the first quarter with 14 points, including three made three-pointers. And all three of these three-pointers came in about 38 seconds.

Clark added another two threes shortly into the second quarter, putting her on pace to reach over 40 points as the game continues.

The Nike basketball account got in on the fun, as they made an X post that wrote, "When @CaitlinClark22 makes it rain, it pours."

Regardless of how many points she ends up with, Clark being back on the basketball court (and getting right back to cooking her opponents with contested long-range threes and elite passing) is fantastic for the entire sport of basketball.

But all Clark surely cares about right now is handing the New York Liberty their first loss of the 2025 regular season.

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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.

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