"It was a good airball" - Caitlin Clark jokes about hitting half-court bomb and riling up Sky fans in blowout win

Caitlin Clark's career night wasn't without a few hiccups, as she missed a deep 3-pointer badly with minutes remaining in the Indiana Fever's decisive win over the Chicago Sky during the WNBA’s first-ever “Barbie Night.”

Clark had already scored 29 points when she attempted a 26-foot pull-up jumper with the Fever ahead 96-71 and 4:24 left in the game. The shot missed by a wide margin but was followed by a flagrant foul a few plays later. She ended the game with a career-high 31 points, shooting 8-for-14 from the field and 5-for-9 from 3-point range.

During the postgame press conference, Clark joked about the shot, calling it a playful attempt.

“I just launched one for fun. It was kind of a bomb. It was a good airball,” she said.

You can view her comments at the 49-second mark below:

Caitlin Clark also added 12 assists, committed only three turnovers and achieved a plus-23 rating.

As the game wound down, the Fever pulled their starters, with the game well in hand. They secured a 100-81 win, moving up to sixth place in the standings with their 16th victory. They are tied with the Phoenix Mercury at 16-16 but hold the tiebreaker.

Kelsey Mitchell added 23 points for the Fever. NaLyssa Smith and Lexie Hull also scored in double figures, contributing 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, Angel Reese recorded her 23rd double-double in the loss, setting a WNBA rookie record with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Michaela Onyenwere and Lindsay Allen led the Sky with 20 and 19 points, respectively, as Chicago fell to an 11-20 record with their fifth consecutive defeat, further jeopardizing their playoff chances as they cling to the final playoff spot.

A closer look at Caitlin Clark’s stats since the Olympic break

Having not been selected for Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Caitlin Clark has been on a tear since the WNBA resumed play.

In the six games following the break, she has averaged 24 points, 5.2 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game, while sinking 3.7 3-pointers per game.

During this period, the Fever have gone 5-1 overall, including a 4-1 record against teams with winning records.

As the playoffs approach, the Fever are gaining momentum. They have eight games remaining, and according to Tankathon, their remaining schedule is the easiest in the league.

They face only three games against .500 teams: one against the Minnesota Lynx and two against the Las Vegas Aces.