The WNBA’s new era is here, and the Indiana Fever are right at the center of it. With Caitlin Clark’s rookie explosion still echoing around the league, every Fever game has become must-see TV. But as the 2025 preseason wrapped up in Atlanta, Clark and her teammates faced their toughest test yet—one that would showcase not just their talent, but their toughness, chemistry, and depth.
This is the story of how Clark got hit hard, responded with savage play, and how Lexie Hull’s late-game brilliance helped the Fever close out the preseason undefeated.
The Target on Caitlin Clark’s Back
If there’s one thing everyone in the WNBA learned last season, it’s that Caitlin Clark is a magnet for attention—wanted or not. Her record-breaking rookie year turned the Fever into a headline act, but it also made Clark a target. Hard fouls, trash talk, and physical defense became her nightly reality.
Heading into their final preseason game against the Atlanta Dream, Clark and the Fever knew what to expect: intensity, physicality, and no easy buckets. The Dream, with playoff aspirations and pride on the line, were ready to test Indiana’s mettle.
A Fast Start and Early Fireworks
The game tipped off in Peach Tree Country with both teams trading blows. Kelsey Mitchell set the tone early, finding Natasha Howard for a smooth hook shot, then dazzling with a fake handoff to score herself. Indiana’s energy was high, and so was their pace—Aaliyah Boston pushed the ball coast-to-coast for a highlight-reel finish.
But Atlanta’s rookie Tahina Pow Pow answered right back, driving hard and keeping the Dream level at 11 apiece. The first quarter was a back-and-forth tussle, but Clark wasn’t about to stay quiet. She found Boston for an and-one, then drilled her first “Caitlin special”—a deep three-pointer from the top of the key.
By the end of the first, Indiana led 21-16, momentum on their side.
Clark Gets Teed Up, Then Turns Up the Heat
The second quarter opened with Clark wasting no time—she splashed another three, then threaded a pinpoint pass to Sophie Cunningham for an easy bucket. But just as Indiana started to groove, the referees handed Clark her first technical foul of the season.
For most players, that might have rattled them. Not Clark. Instead, she channeled her frustration into her play, torching Atlanta’s rookie with a spicy step-back triple. The Dream answered with a highlight of their own—Pow Pow put Clark on skates, sending the crowd into a frenzy—but the Fever weathered the storm, closing the half up 42-40.
Physical Play and the Turning Point
The third quarter was where the game’s physicality reached its peak. Early on, Sophie Cunningham twisted her ankle after stepping on an opponent’s foot—a scary moment, but one that, thankfully, wasn’t serious. Coach Christie Sides later reassured fans that Cunningham would be ready for opening night.
With emotions running high, Clark drove hard to the rim late in the third. Atlanta’s Ryan Howard hacked her across the face, then stared her down as Clark lay on the court. The referees swallowed their whistles, ignoring both the obvious foul and a follow-up clip. It was a moment that could have derailed Indiana’s composure.
Instead, it lit a fire.
Clark responded with a full-court dime to Dana Bonner for a touchdown layup. Despite the rough treatment, she kept her poise, finishing the third with Indiana still on top, 63-59.
Lexie Hull: The Unlikely Hero
With Coach Sides deciding to rest some of her stars in the fourth, the Fever needed someone to step up. That someone was Lexie Hull.
Hull started the quarter by drawing defenders and finding Temi Fagbenle for a cutting layup. Then she went to work herself, drilling a 15-foot jumper, attacking the rack for an and-one, and hitting a smooth jumper off a pin-down screen. Hull was everywhere—scoring, facilitating, and defending.
As Atlanta tried to mount a comeback, Hull slammed the door shut. She drove through traffic for a tough layup, then calmly hit another jumper at the foul line. Her fourth quarter explosion—11 points in the final period—powered the Fever to an 81-76 victory.
Stat Sheet and Standouts
Lexie Hull finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists—11 of those points coming in the clutch fourth quarter. Caitlin Clark, despite the Dream’s best efforts to rough her up, delivered 13 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, including three triples and several highlight-reel passes.
Kelsey Mitchell added her usual scoring punch, and Aaliyah Boston anchored the paint. The Fever’s offense hummed with ball movement and unselfish play, a testament to their growing chemistry.
More Than a Win: A Statement of Depth and Grit
This wasn’t just a preseason win. For Indiana, it was a statement. The box score showed three different scoring leaders and three different rebounding leaders across their three preseason games. The offense was fluid, the defense aggressive, and the bench ready to shine.
Hull’s breakout fourth quarter underscored the Fever’s depth—this isn’t a one-woman show. With Clark drawing the defense’s attention, Hull, Mitchell, and others are ready to make teams pay.
And Clark? She proved again that she’s not just a shooter or a scorer—she’s a competitor who thrives under pressure, who takes hard fouls and comes back even stronger.
Looking Ahead: The Fever’s Real Test Begins
With the preseason in the books and a perfect 3-0 record, Indiana is building something special. The players are buying into the system, trusting each other, and believing in the process. As Clark herself said, it might not always be pretty, but the work and trust are there—and by season’s end, they’ll be where they want to be.
Opening night is just a week away, with Clark set to face off against her longtime rival Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. If the preseason is any indication, fans are in for a season filled with fireworks, grit, and highlight plays.
Conclusion: The Fever Are for Real
Caitlin Clark got hit hard, but she answered with savage play and leadership. Lexie Hull broke out as a clutch performer. The Fever’s unblemished preseason campaign has the rest of the WNBA on notice: Indiana is deep, tough, and ready to contend.
As the regular season dawns, one thing is clear—this Fever team is more than just hype. They’re a force, and they’re just getting started.
New Video Shows What Caitlin Clark Said to Ref During Intense Exchange vs. Dream
On Saturday, the final WNBA preseason game for the Atlanta Dream showcased Caitlin Clark. Despite it being an exhibition game, the Dream did not slacken defensively. They put pressure on the floor and tried to prevent Clark and the Indiana Fever from having momentum.
Unfortunately for the Dream, they couldn’t stop the Fever and had an 81-76 loss. During the game, though, the situation got intense as Clark received a technical foul.
The reigning Rookie of the Year had an intense reaction after a made basket by Atlanta. She threw the basketball at the stanchion, which earned him a whistle from the official.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark reacts to being called for a technical foul during the game against the Atlanta Dream during the first halfDale Zanine-Imagn Images
A new video was posted on X, and it showed Clark’s intense reaction toward the referee. The former Iowa star (presumably) said, “No one cares! No one cares!”
after caitlin got the tech
“no one cares. no one cares.” lmfaooooo pic.twitter.com/Jc3EWHeWrM
— correlation (@nosyone4) May 11, 2025
Fortunately for the Fever star, her Sophie Cunningham was there to drag her away from the referee to avoid the situation from escalating.
Clark was on the floor for 23 minutes and had 13 points on 5-for-11 shooting from the field. Additionally, the Fever star had six rebounds and seven assists in the team’s preseason finale.
The Dream’s rookie, Te-Hina Paopao, had an incredible outing in her first experience in the WNBA. The second-round pick had 14 points and two assists against Indiana. She also got to score a basket while Clark was her defender.
She played 21 minutes off the bench and tried to help the team end their preseason games on a high note.
The first regular-season game between the Fever and Dream will be on Tuesday, May 20, at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
