Caitlin Clark shines, but Fever suffer embarrassing blowout loss to Mystics as playoff race heats up

The Fever seemed to join Week 2 of the NFL in a scoring slump on Sunday, falling to the Washington Mystics 93-77 in a one-sided loss with real playoff implications on the line.The defeat extinguished much of the Fever's late-season momentum.This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.
If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever shoots while defended by Shakira Austin of the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on Sept.
20, 2026.(Getty Images)A squad of Fever veterans got thoroughly outplayed by a youth-heavy Washington roster.
(Fever fans, you know how this looks, right? Not great.)THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE.DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!Caitlin Clark, as expected, led all scorers with 25 points and added five assists, though she also committed five turnovers.
Clark and Kelsey Mitchell were the only real sparks for the Fever on Sunday, accounting for 47 of their 77 points.Not even a home-court advantage could elevate the Fever in a miserable all-around outing.Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever shoots the ball while defended by Lauren Betts of the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on Sept.20, 2026.
(Getty Images)Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever smiles before the game against the Washington Mystics on Sept.20, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.
(NBAE via Getty Images)The Washington game was crucial for the Fever, who slipped a game behind the Atlanta Dream for fourth seeding.Indiana leaned on the perimeter early, but went 0-for-7 from deep to open the game.Sophie Cunningham, one of the league's top three-point shooters, played just four minutes in the first half as Indiana fell into a 51-30 hole at the break.FEVER COACH STEPHANIE WHITE OPENS UP ABOUT FAN RECEPTION AFTER TURBULE...