A heartfelt pregame moment with Caitlin Clark
A few moments before the Indiana Fever took the court, Caitlin Clark had an unexpected interaction with a young fan that quickly became one of the night’s most memorable moments. What happened next was captured in photos and shared by the Fever, leaving fans with an emotional glimpse of Clark away from the action.
But what exactly brought the young fan to tears? Swipe through to see how this brief pregame encounter unfolded.
The Fever shared the moment online
The Fever’s official social media account posted the interaction on August 14, describing the young fan as being brought to tears after receiving Clark’s autograph. The team also shared photos of Clark meeting the child and called the encounter a special moment.
The post appeared before Indiana’s home game against Dallas at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The team did not identify the child or provide personal details.
The game was held in Indianapolis
The autograph moment happened before Indiana’s home matchup with Dallas at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The WNBA listed the game for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on August 14, while the Wings listed a 6:30 p.m. Central Time tip.
The game was part of the 2026 regular season and the second meeting between the teams. Dallas had won the opener 107-104 on May 9.
Indiana entered the matchup on a strong stretch
The Fever entered the Dallas game with a 21-12 record and had won four of six games. Their previous contest was a 106-92 home victory over the New York Liberty on August 11, when Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 28 points.
Indiana’s record placed the team in the playoff picture. The Wings noted that five Fever players scored in double figures during that victory.
Dallas arrived with 20 wins
Dallas entered the matchup at 20-14 after beating the Toronto Tempo 94-88 on August 12. The Wings said that victory gave the franchise its 20th win, marking only the second time Dallas had reached 20 regular-season victories.
The matchup featured two teams positioned for postseason contention. Paige Bueckers entered after scoring 22 points and eight assists against Toronto.
Clark was already producing at a high level
Entering August 14, Clark was averaging 21.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game, according to her WNBA profile. She had also recorded 10 assists in Indiana’s August 11 win over New York, adding to her season playmaking numbers.
Clark was in her third WNBA season after Indiana selected her first overall in the 2024 draft. Her WNBA profile lists Iowa as her college.
The autograph came before a nationally televised game
The Wings’ official preview said the August 14 matchup would air nationally on ION. The contest featured Clark for Indiana and Paige Bueckers for Dallas, with both teams entering the night holding winning records.
The game was the third scheduled regular-season meeting between the teams in 2026. Dallas had won the first meeting in May, while Indiana had won four of its previous six.
Interesting fact: A Fever-Sky matchup on Aug. 23 averaged 3.31 million viewers, making it the WNBA’s most-watched regular-season game since 1997.
Clark returned to action against Dallas
Clark played against Dallas after being listed as probable on the injury report with a back issue. She started and played 34 minutes, finishing with 29 points, 10 assists and three rebounds as Indiana defeated Dallas 98-87 at home.
The official Fever highlights confirmed Clark’s final statistics and the 11-point victory. Her 29 points led Indiana, while Kelsey Mitchell finished second with 23 points.
Interesting fact: The Indiana Fever reached 26–14 after beating Connecticut 111–91 on Aug. 28, with Clark and Kelsey Mitchell each scoring 34 points.
She scored 16 points in the third quarter
Clark scored 16 of her 29 points in the third quarter against Dallas, but Indiana still trailed entering the fourth. The Fever then took control with a 15-2 fourth-quarter run, turning a three-point deficit into a 78-68 lead.
Aliyah Boston scored 10 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter, while Indiana scored 35 points in the period. The surge helped the Fever pull away for a 98-87 victory over Dallas.
Her performance produced a WNBA milestone
Clark’s 29-point, 10-assist performance gave her the 20th game of her career with at least 20 points and 10 assists. The Fever reported that no other player in WNBA history had recorded more than 10 such games.
The game added another double-double to Clark’s 2026 season total. She shot 11-for-18 from the field, including two made three-pointers, and made five free throws.
The Fever received major contributions from teammates
Kelsey Mitchell scored 23 points against Dallas, extending her streak to 18 consecutive games with at least 20 points. Aliyah Boston added 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Tyasha Harris scored 15 points by making all five of her 3-point attempts.
Dallas was led by Paige Bueckers, who matched Clark with 29 points and recorded six assists. Indiana completed the 98-87 victory.
Indiana moved to 22-12 after the win
The 98-87 victory moved Indiana to 22-12 and gave the Fever their third consecutive win. The Associated Press reported that it also marked Indiana’s eighth win in its previous 10 games and kept the team in the playoff race.
The result mattered in the standings because Indiana and Dallas were competing for postseason position. The win also evened the 2026 regular-season series.
The internet is also talking about Caitlin Clark ranked No. 7 on FIBA’s 2026 World Cup players-to-watch list.
The teams met again during August
The Fever and Wings met the following week again, on August 20, in Dallas. The Wings won that matchup 91-85, despite Kelsey Mitchell scoring 37 points and Caitlin Clark recording 10 points, nine assists, and four rebounds.
The result gave Dallas a split of the August meetings. Mitchell’s 37 points also helped her set a WNBA record with 21 consecutive games of at least 20 points.
In other news, physical play around Caitlin Clark draws attention after career night.
What would you do if Caitlin Clark stopped to sign something just for you? If this moment made you smile, like this post and comment with your reaction! Would you have been able to hold back the tears?
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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