Clark's Fever beat Aces 99-89 to force a deciding Game 3
Indiana beat Las Vegas in Game 2 of their best-of-three first-round series to avoid elimination. Caitlin Clark recorded a points-assists double-double before halftime, which outlets describe as a first.
Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from ABC News.
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The story, neutrally told
The Indiana Fever beat the Las Vegas Aces 99-89 on Tuesday in Game 2 of their first-round series, avoiding elimination and forcing a deciding Game 3 on Thursday. Fox NewsR “The Fever won 99-89 to avoid elimination Tuesday and force a deciding Game 3 on Thursday.” Read at Fox News ↗ ABC NewsLC “Fever force Game 3 as NY Liberty advance” Read at ABC News ↗ Caitlin Clark had 14 points and 11 assists by halftime, which Newsweek calls a first for a WNBA game's first half and Fox News calls a playoff first. NewsweekN “became the first WNBA player to record a points-assists double-double in a game's first half” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “becoming the first player to record a points-assists double-double before halftime of a playoff game” Read at Fox News ↗ Indiana led 48-43 at the break, according to both outlets. Fox NewsR “a 48-43 halftime lead” Read at Fox News ↗ NewsweekN “jump to a 48-43 first-half lead” Read at Newsweek ↗
Fox News reports Clark finished with 27 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds and fouled out with 2:45 left in the fourth quarter. Jackie Young led Las Vegas with 31 points. Fox NewsR “Clark finished with 27 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds before fouling out with 2:45 remaining in the fourth quarter” Read at Fox News ↗ Fox News says Clark received a second-quarter technical foul after an apparent flop by Aces guard Mai Yamamoto, and that Indiana then went on a 24-6 run. It also says A'Ja Wilson received a fourth-quarter technical for an interaction with a fan, and that it will report further on that. Fox NewsR “Clark picked up a technical foul late in the frame.”“OutKick will have a story on the incident as more information is gathered.” Read at Fox News ↗ Newsweek adds context: Indiana lost Game 1 102-85, and Clark then called the team's play "sloppy" and graded its defence an "F". NewsweekN “Caitlin Clark called her team's performance "sloppy," even grading their defensive effort an " F."” Read at Newsweek ↗
Both outlets note Clark was named AP Comeback Player of the Year; Newsweek says she averaged 22.3 points and 8.3 assists as Indiana took the sixth seed. NewsweekN “helping to lead them to the sixth seed in the WNBA Playoffs” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “AP Comeback Player of the Year” Read at Fox News ↗ ABC News' video report pairs the Fever win with the New York Liberty's ousting of the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx. ABC NewsLC “including the New York Liberty's ousting of the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx and a history-making win” Read at ABC News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- A short video roundup of several WNBA playoff results, with the Fever's win one of the headlines.
- Emphasis
- Fever forcing Game 3 alongside the Liberty eliminating the Lynx.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No scores, stats or game detail.
- Charged language
- “high-octane”
- For example
-
“ABC News' Lara Spencer has all the action from the high-octane matchups” — ABC News
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Clark's historic first half, written around halftime and set against the Game 1 loss.
- Emphasis
- Clark's 'sloppy' comment, her season averages and career trajectory.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No final score, technical foul or second-half detail.
- Charged language
- “legendary WNBA career”
- For example
-
“she seems well on pace for a legendary WNBA career if she continues operating at this level” — Newsweek
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Game recap built around Clark's technical foul sparking a run, with Clark as the hero.
- Emphasis
- Technical foul, 24-6 run, final stat line, the Wilson technical.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the Game 1 loss or Clark's 'sloppy' remark.
- Charged language
- “Poking the bear backfired for the Aces”“furious rally”“Clark put on a clinic”“owns the moment”
What every side reports
- Indiana won Game 2 and forced a Game 3 against Las Vegas.
- Clark had 14 points and 11 assists at halftime in a historic first half.
- Indiana led 48-43 at halftime.
Where accounts differ
-
What the history-making feat was
- Left
- ABC calls it only 'a history-making win'.
- Centre
- Newsweek: first WNBA player with a points-assists double-double in a game's first half.
- Right
- Fox News: first to do so before halftime of a playoff game; also first with 25+ points and 15+ assists in any WNBA game.
-
Clark was the first WNBA player to record a points-assists double-double in the first half of a game
Supported- Supports 2
- Newsweek, Fox News
- Reports 1
- ABC News
Caitlin Clark person
Clark is portrayed as driving the turnaround; Newsweek notes her earlier criticism of the team's Game 1 play.
“Clark channeled that fire immediately into a furious 24-6 surge” — Fox News
“Caitlin Clark called her team's performance "sloppy,"” — Newsweek
Indiana Fever organisation
Facing elimination, the Fever are shown as bouncing back from a Game 1 loss to force a decider.
“her team desperately needed a Game 2 win to prevent elimination” — Newsweek
Las Vegas Aces organisation
The defending champions are shown leading the series after Game 1, then losing Game 2 despite Jackie Young's 31 points.
“Jackie Young led the Aces with 31 points.” — Fox News
New York Liberty organisation
ABC notes the Liberty advanced by ousting the No. 1 Lynx.
“the New York Liberty's ousting of the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx” — ABC News
Left1 article
-
WATCH: WNBA playoffs: Fever force Game 3 as NY Liberty advance
Neutral Brief video teaser covering the Fever's win and the Liberty's series win.
Centre2 articles
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Caitlin Clark Makes WNBA History in Just First Half of Aces-Fever Playoff Game
Sympathetic Halftime piece celebrating Clark's record and star trajectory.
-
Right1 article
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Caitlin Clark's technical foul sparks furious rally as Fever avoid elimination against Aces
Celebratory Recap crediting Clark's technical foul and composure for the Fever's rally.
- 30 Sep 01:48 First Fox NewsR Caitlin Clark's technical foul sparks furious rally as Fever avoid elimination against Aces
- 30 Sep 02:26 +38m NewsweekN Caitlin Clark Makes WNBA History in Just First Half of Aces-Fever Playoff Game
- 30 Sep 12:39 +10h 51m ABC NewsLC WATCH: WNBA playoffs: Fever force Game 3 as NY Liberty advance
- 30 Sep 17:34 +15h 46m NewsweekN Liberty Stun Lynx in Historic First-Round WNBA Playoff Upset
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.