In Seattle, Ava Pham made history by becoming the youngest player in history at age 20 to make four three-point shots in one quarter.
Dominique Malonga scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough for Seattle, which set a team record for points scored in a loss in regulation.
Clarke’s record-breaking night came a day after NBA commissioner Adam Silver called her a “political soccer player.”
The star point guard has become one of the most exciting players in the WNBA since being drafted by the Fever in 2024, and much attention has been paid to how opposing teams treat her and the tactics they use to try to limit her impact during games.
Last month, Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas received a retrospective one-game suspension and a $1,000 (£743) fine for kneeing Clark in the groin and punching her in the neck during a struggle for possession.
A group of 11 Republican lawmakers then sent a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert asking the league to accept “responsibility” and expressing concern that “the attacks on Clark may be racially motivated.”
Right-wing political commentators also weighed in, suggesting that Clark’s treatment was rooted in racism and jealousy.
Speaking as part of a panel at an event in New York on Thursday, Silver said the debate surrounding Clark was about broader political and cultural issues in the United States, not just basketball.
“This particular incident is not about whether the foul should have been called during the game or whether it was a flagrant oversight,” Silver said.
“I got to know Caitlin very well. She’s an incredible player and an incredible person.
“And she wants to focus on becoming the best player she can be. And she’s become sort of a political football player in this country, and I think that’s incredibly unfair to her.”