Kate “Money” Martin Highlights: 12pts/7reb Off BENCH In Las Vegas Aces Win vs Indiana Fever | WNBA

 

A’ja Wilson totals 29 points and 15 rebounds to lead Aces to 99-80 win over Caitlin Clark and Fever

Clark and Martin skipped toward each other and hugged pregame.

“We’re both living out our dreams right now,” Martin said. “We both always wanted to get to this point, and we’re doing that right now. So we’re really grateful we’re in this position and we have this opportunity, so it’s pretty cool to experience that with your best friend.”

Another former Hawkeye, Megan Gustafson, plays for Las Vegas.

Those players’ former coach, Lisa Bluder, sat courtside. Bluder, who retired May 14 after 24 years overseeing the Hawkeyes, was joined by her replacement, Jan Jansen.

“It’s pretty cool they all get to be on the court at the time tonight,” Bluder said before the game. “Whenever you see somebody reach their dream, it’s so satisfying to think you might have some small part to do with it. It’s the best feeling in the world. It’s why we do this.”

Clark was one of five No. 1 draft picks in this game along with teammate Boston and Las Vegas’ Wilson, Plum and Young. Also, the top four women’s scorers in NCAA Division I history — Clark, Plum, Las Vegas’ Dyaisha Fair and Mitchell — played in this game.

The game was played before an announced sellout crowd of 10,399, but short of the Aces’ record at Michelob Ultra Arena. Las Vegas drew 10,419 for this season’s opener against the Phoenix Mercury when the Aces raised their second championship banner in a row. Sixteen of the Aces’ 20 home games have sold out this season, a league record.

 

The WNBA didn’t do Clark and the Fever any favors with the early schedule. This was Indiana’s seventh game in 12 days and third in four. It also was the Fever’s fifth road game as well as their fifth game overall against a team that competed in either of the past two WNBA Finals.

“Thank the Lord,” Boston said of this tough stretch ending.

“It’s hard being on the road like this and playing the teams that we have,” she added. “But in the end of it, in the middle of it even, we’re going to be prepared for what’s to come because we’ve had these tough games to start this season.”

Las Vegas, by contrast, was playing its fourth game of the season — all at home.

The Aces looked comfortable in their familiar surroundings, bouncing back from Tuesday night’s 98-88 loss to the Mercury for their most complete performance of the young season. They outscored the Fever 22-10 in the second quarter to take an eight-point lead at halftime, and took full control by ending the third quarter on an 11-3 run for a 72-56 lead.

“We actually played (defense),” Wilson said. “I feel like in the past games, we didn’t want it. It was just like we thought we could outscore (the opponents) and this league is too good to do that. So I think tonight we actually wanted to play defense, and I think that loss against Phoenix kind of woke us up, so it didn’t matter who we played this weekend.”

HOT NEWS: 

🚨 COACH CHRISTIE SIDES BLAMES CAITLIN CLARK AND CALLS HER A “PROBLEM” AFTER THIRD STRAIGHT LOSS

Coach Christie sides blames Caitlin Clark and calls her a “problem” After Third Straight Loss

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Caitlin Clark scores 22 points but winless Indiana Fever suffer third straight defeat

 Caitlin Clark had the best night of her WNBA career so far. Wendell Cruz/USA Today Sports/Reuters

CNN — 

Caitlin Clark had the best individual game of her fledgling WNBA career to date, registering 22 points, six rebounds and eight assists, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Indiana Fever from losing a third straight game.

The Fever lost 91-80 to the New York Liberty on Saturday to begin the season 0-3, though the performance was a marked improvement on the 36-point drubbing suffered against the same opponent two days earlier.

Clark’s 22 points came on an efficient 52.9% shooting, including 4-of-10 from three-point range, but the recent No. 1 draft pick also committed eight turnovers.

“I thought I came out and just played harder [than two nights ago], and I think that’s going to be just my biggest focus going forward,” Clark said, per ESPN. “Just come out and compete and play hard. I thought our whole group did that.

“I’m going to continue to learn from game to game, but I thought tonight was better.”

Conversely, the Liberty has enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season and now boasts the WNBA’s best record at 3-0.

Reigning MVP Breanna Stewart scored a game-high 24 points for last season’s beaten WNBA finalist to go with five rebounds and four steals as the Liberty thrilled a sellout crowd inside Barclays Center.

Next up for the Fever is Monday’s match against the Conneticut Sun – a repeat of the Fever’s season opener – as Clark goes in search of her first WNBA win, while the Liberty will face the Seattle Storm.

 

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JASON KELCE FIERCELY REACTS TO DAUGHTER WYATT’S PRESCHOOL CRUSH

Jason Kelce Fiercely Reacts to Daughter Wyatt’s Preschool Crush

Jason Kelce wasn’t pleased to learn that his and wife Kylie Kelce’s daughter Wyatt, 4, developed a crush on a boy in her preschool class, saying that he can “just tell in the way she talks about him.”

powerful. The former NFL player explains what he got his wife Kylie Jason Kelce is ready to pull a pass interference. The retired Philadelphia Eagles center shared how he plans to handle the fact that his daughter Wyatt, 4, has developed heart eyes for a boy in her new preschool class. “Wyatt’s got a crush on one of the boys—I’m not gonna tell you his name,” Jason told his brother and cohost Travis Kelce during the May 15 episode of their New Heights podcast. “But you can just tell in the way she talks about him, so I’m ready to beat the f–k out of him.” Joking that he “knows how these f–kers think when they’re 5,” the former NFL star—who also shares daughters Elliotte, 3, and Bennett, 14 months, with wife Kylie Kelce—explained why he’s not a fan of the new development, saying, “I know exactly what’s going through his mind.” Enter your email to sign up for the newsletter. And Uncle Travis didn’t bother trying to talk his older brother out of the game plan. In fact, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end was equally as protective over his niece, offering his own strategy on how to put a stop to the budding romance. “Just go after the dad,” Travis suggested. “Just be like, ‘Calm your kid down. He doesn’t need to be this cool, he’s only in preschool.'” Overall, Jason—who inked a deal as an ESPN analyst two months after announcing his retirement from football—said that he’s happy with his daughter’s school experience, noting that he’s particularly impressed with her cohort of teachers. Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images “The same teacher that we have for Wyatt and Elliotte was also the teacher at preschool when Kylie was growing up,” Jason shared. “You can just tell how amazing she is and just great at her job.” He added, “It’s really cool to hear your kids experiencing things on their own and then come back to share them with you.”  Keep reading for more cute moments between Jason, Kylie and their three little ones. Instagram/@kykelce Love at First Sight After a not-so-smooth first date, Jason and Kylie would hit off when they went out again, with the two making their relationship Instagram official in November 2015. Instagram/@kykelce Total Touchdown After tying the knot in 2018, Kylie reflected on celebrating the wins in life alongside her now-husband. “This off-season was my favorite yet,” she wrote in a social media post that July. “It was short but oh so sweet. I am so incredibly proud to call this man my husband, and I can’t wait to watch his hard work and dedication through another season.” Instagram Baby on Board By October 2019, the couple expanded their family, welcoming baby Wyatt into the world. by Taboola Sponsored U.S. Mint Shop Now Honor Our Nation’s Service Members All Month Long 1-800 Contacts Shop Now Contacts Delivered to Your Door BabbelDon’t Miss Out on Babbel’s Lifetime Language Offer! Noom Learn More THIS 5 Min Quiz Tells You What Your Body Actually Needs To Lose Weight D&D Beyond Learn More Your Adventure Beings

Instagram/@kykelce Family of Four Two years later, their second daughter Elliotte, joined her big sister. Instagram/@kykelce Party of Five Just one year later, Kylie shared that “another Kelce lady” would be added to the bunch with an adorable set of photos. Instagram/@kykelce Baby Bennett In February 2023, the couple welcomed their third child, with her arrival coming nearly two weeks after Jason faced off against brother Travis at the 2023 Super Bowl. Instagram/@jason.kelce Golden Girls The NFL star shared a glimpse at his oldest daughters holding a huge prize in May 2023, writing on Instagram, “Never in a million years did I think I’d hold the Larry O’Brien trophy, let alone that it would be in my house!! Unbelievable honor to see it in person. The size is incredible, looks so small when NBA players are holding it, but it’s actually massive!! The girls were very interested in it.” Instagram/@kykelce Perfect Teammates The couple shared a look at the family of five while on the field that August, joking in a joint Instagram post, “Here for the Rita’s and obstacle courses with dad after practice.”