Caitlin Clark Claps Back After Rhyne Howard’s Dirty Hit as Fever Get Revenge Win Over Dream
The Indiana Fever have delivered the perfect response to doubt, disrespect, and defeat. After suffering a lopsided loss to the Atlanta Dream just days earlier—one that included a hard, borderline dirty foul from Rhyne Howard on rookie sensation Caitlin Clark—the Fever stormed back with a vengeance in a rematch that had the energy of a playoff showdown.
This time, they weren’t just playing to win. They were playing to make a statement. And that statement was heard loud and clear.
The tension was palpable from the opening tip. Caitlin Clark, who had been scrutinized for her performance in the previous matchup, walked into the game with a fire in her eyes. Early in the first quarter, after being tightly guarded by Howard, Clark turned, stared her opponent down, and dropped what may become the most iconic line of her young career:
“I’m not scared of you.”
That moment shifted the energy in the arena. From there on, it was Clark’s court.
Though her shooting numbers weren’t dazzling—she finished with 11 points on 3-of-10 shooting—Clark controlled the tempo like a veteran. Her court vision was elite, her ball-handling poised, and her confidence unwavering. She added 6 assists and 5 rebounds, but her true contribution was intangible: leadership under pressure.
“She wasn’t just playing,” Fever head coach Christie Sides said postgame. “She was leading. She was setting the tone.”
While Clark was the emotional heartbeat of the team, the star of the box score was Natasha Howard. The veteran forward erupted for 26 points and 7 rebounds, taking over the paint and punishing Atlanta with her physicality. Every possession she battled for, every second-chance point she created, reminded the Dream that this wasn’t the same Fever team they had embarrassed days earlier.
Kelsey Mitchell added 17 points with her trademark scoring bursts, while Lexie Hull chipped in 10 and played strong perimeter defense. But perhaps the most unexpected hero was Sophie Cunningham, making her Fever debut. Cunningham tallied 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, but her hustle defined her night. She dove for loose balls, disrupted passes, and brought a toughness that visibly rattled the Dream’s rhythm.
“She played like she had something to prove,” Clark said about Cunningham. “And that’s the kind of fire we need.”
What changed from Game 1 to Game 2? Everything.
In their first meeting, the Fever were outplayed in nearly every category—rebounds, defense, paint points, and energy. This time, Indiana flipped the script. They doubled their points in the paint and, surprisingly, won the rebounding battle. Defensively, they stayed aggressive, switching on screens, closing out shooters, and never letting the Dream get comfortable.
The Dream fought back. Rhyne Howard had her moments and brought defensive intensity, but it wasn’t enough. Atlanta’s offense stalled under pressure, and as the game wore on, the frustration mounted. Clark, meanwhile, kept her cool. She took hits, drew fouls, and kept the ball moving.
Every time the Dream made a run, the Fever responded. And when it mattered most, they locked in and pulled away.
The final score: Indiana Fever 81, Atlanta Dream 76.
This win was more than revenge—it was a revelation. It showed that the Indiana Fever, led by their fearless rookie and backed by a growing cast of gritty veterans, are not to be underestimated.
Clark may not have filled the scoreboard, but she owned the moment. After being targeted and taunted, she responded with poise, toughness, and quiet dominance. In the words of a fan holding a sign courtside:
“She doesn’t talk much, but she lets her game speak.”
And on this night, her game screamed loud and clear: The Fever are here to fight. And Caitlin Clark? She’s just getting started.
