The most anticipated season in Indiana Fever history began with a rout and a record-setting performance.

Caitlin Clark opened her sophomore WNBA campaign spectacularly, notching her third career triple-double in a 93-58 win over the Chicago Sky on Saturday. In her 41st WNBA game, Clark tallied 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, joining elite company in league history.

The four blocks Clark recorded were also a career-high, but she wasn’t interested in stat-chasing.

“The coaching staff has just challenged me to be a better defender in every single practice and just being better in that area,” Clark said. “I still feel like there is a lot of room for me to improve… You look at the stat sheet and it’s like, ‘Oh, wow, four!’”

With the performance, Clark tied Candace Parker for the third-most triple-doubles in WNBA history. Only Alyssa Thomas (15) and Sabrina Ionescu (four) have more.

Indiana rolled out a starting lineup featuring Clark, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, Natasha Howard, and DeWanna Bonner — a mix of rising stars and proven veterans. The unit combined for 76 of the team’s 93 points.

Boston was dominant, finishing with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocks on 8-of-12 shooting in just 27 minutes. Howard contributed 15 points and five rebounds, while Mitchell added 15 points, shooting 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Bonner had a quieter game with seven points and three rebounds, but passed Tina Thompson for third on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list during the fourth quarter.

Off the bench, Lexie Hull flirted with a double-double, posting nine points and nine rebounds. Indiana’s defense — a focal point under head coach Stephanie White — shined as well, holding the Sky to just 29.1% shooting and forcing 13 steals in a wire-to-wire effort.

“At the end of the day, the best way to learn is just to get into live action and live games,” Clark said before the opener.

One of the biggest questions entering the season was whether Indiana could take a step forward defensively after finishing 11th in defensive rating last year.

In Stephanie White’s first game back as head coach, the answer was a resounding yes.

The Fever held Chicago to just 29.1% shooting from the field and forced 17 turnovers, including 13 team steals and 10 total blocks. Clark and Boston combined for 9 of those blocks, while the perimeter pressure and help rotations showed clear signs of refinement.

“That’s the end of the floor we’ve talked the most about,” White said earlier this week. “If we want to compete in this league, it starts with getting stops.”

“Just a Basketball Play”: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Address Flagrant Foul in Fever’s Rout of Sky 4 May 17, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) gets the crowd excited Saturday, May 17, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Chicago Sky, 93-58.Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith-IndyStar via Imagn Images

For Chicago, the debut of new head coach Tyler Marsh’s uptempo system produced growing pains. The Sky attempted 27 three-pointers — well above last season’s average — but hit just six. They committed 17 turnovers and failed to find rhythm on either end.

Angel Reese, however, continued to showcase her impact. She finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds in just 25 minutes, operating in a more versatile role that included bringing the ball up the floor and initiating offense. Despite her individual success, Reese also had five turnovers, including a key first-quarter steal by Bonner that led to a breakaway layup.

Cardoso, meanwhile, had a quieter outing with seven points and seven boards. Ariel Atkins added 11 points, but Courtney Vandersloot struggled to find her form, posting just four points on 2-of-9 shooting with five assists. Kamilla Cardoso only totaled seven points and seven rebounds while finishing 3-of-9 from the floor.

At the 4:38 mark of the third quarter, Clark was assessed a flagrant foul while contesting a Reese shot. Reese and Boston were each issued offsetting technicals during the exchange. Clark, speaking on the ESPN broadcast, downplayed the moment.

“Nothing malicious about it,” she said. “It was just a good take foul. Every basketball player knows that.”

The Fever and Sky will meet again on June 7, but both teams have plenty on their plates before then. Indiana aims to build on Saturday’s emphatic win, while Chicago returns home to regroup before facing the Liberty on Thursday.