It was a tough outing for Indiana Fever’s rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, who struggled during the team’s 86-75 loss to the Las Vegas Aces. Clark shot just 27 percent from the field, tallying 16 points, six assists, and three rebounds, far from her usual standout performances.

The most heated moment of the night came in the third quarter when Clark took an inadvertent elbow to the face from Aces guard Jackie Young. Clark, grimacing in pain, immediately appealed to the referees, hoping for a Flagrant 1 foul to be called on Young. However, much to her disappointment, the referees allowed the game to continue without issuing a penalty.

This moment added to an already challenging night for Clark, who has been a focal point of headlines both on and off the court in recent days. The Indiana Fever rookie, who has had a stellar season, seemed to be out of rhythm in Wednesday’s matchup, and the absence of a call only heightened her frustration.

Political distractions loom large

Off the court, Clark has faced some distractions stemming from her recent social media activity. The WNBA star caused a stir after liking Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris for the upcoming presidential election. Although Clark later clarified that her interaction with Swift’s post wasn’t an official endorsement of Harris, the controversy surrounding her political views may have affected her focus ahead of the game.

Clark’s attempt to stay neutral by appealing to both sides of the political aisle has sparked debate among her fans and the media. With public figures like Taylor Swift influencing political discourse, Clark’s name has been drawn into the conversation, possibly contributing to her lackluster performance on the court.

Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin share heartfelt moment before Indiana Fever vs Las Vegas Aces showdown

Fever’s struggles continue

This loss marks Indiana’s third defeat since the WNBA’sParis Olympic Games hiatus, bringing their post-break record to 8-3 and their overall season record to 19-18. Despite Clark’s rough night, the Fever remain in the playoff hunt with just three games left in the season.

Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Aces had reason to celebrate, as forward A’ja Wilson made history by breaking the WNBA’s single-season scoring record. Wilson, who passed Seattle Storm’s Jewell Lloyd, is averaging 27.3 points per game and is on track to become the first player in WNBA history to surpass 1,000 points in a single season.

As the Fever regroup and look toward their final games, Clark will need to shake off both the physical and mental toll of recent events to help guide her team toward a strong finish.