INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 30: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 questions being called for a delay of game against the Dallas Wings during a preseason game on April 30, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA APR 30 Preseason Dallas Wings at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260434
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 30: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 questions being called for a delay of game against the Dallas Wings during a preseason game on April 30, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA APR 30 Preseason Dallas Wings at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260434
The game slipped away from the Indiana Fever at the beginning. Caitlin Clark and her team, as always, were strong on the offense, but the Mystics exposed their defensive gaps.
After a strong display against the Toronto Tempo, the Fever lost 93- 77 to the Washington Mystics on Sunday. Clark pointed out that her team set themselves up for failure with the poor start.
"I think when you give a team that type of confidence early in the game, you're just digging yourself a huge hole, and a hole we could never climb out of," Clark shared. "I don't know, our defense was just pitiful and it was frustrating."
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 16: Caitlin Clark 22 of Indiana reacts during the WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream on August 16th, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA. Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire WNBA: AUG 16 Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260816027
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 16: Caitlin Clark 22 of Indiana reacts during the WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream on August 16th, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA. Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire WNBA: AUG 16 Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260816027
The Mystics got off to a flying start, opening with a 16-8 advantage. No matter how hard the Fever offense tried, they couldn’t close the gap.
Clark still produced 25 points, five assists, two steals, and a block, while Kelsey Mitchell contributed 22 points. However, the Mystics faced very little resistance from the Fever defense.
"We got to be able to have a coverage in certain things that we can stop them," Clark added in the postgame conference.
Washington's starters outscored Indiana's starters 74-69. In the reserves battle, Mystics got the better of the Fever, 19-8.
Clark appeared frustrated on the court and even got into a verbal altercation with her head coach.
Caitlin Clark's frustration boils over
As the Fever suffered a heavy loss against the Mystics, Clark was spotted yelling at White about their defensive rotations.
“Everyone needs to rotate so it’s not everyone for themselves,” Clark shouted, as shown on BrickCenter's X post.
Fever's defensive rotations weren't on point as Washington shot 57% from the field while they were limited to 37%.
The first quarter ended with the Fever trailing 34-19. Eventually, they lost by 26 points.
The Fever paid for their defensive lapses. They remain fifth in the standings, 27-15, and face the Lynx next.
Written by
Avishek Sarkar