Caitlin Clark just had one of the best nights of her career. And LeBron James made sure everyone knew he was watching.

The Indiana Fever guard exploded for 37 points and 10 assists in a 113-90 win over the Chicago Sky on Sunday night, knocking down a career-high eight three-pointers in just 32 minutes on the floor.

The performance made its way to James quickly. The NBA legend shared highlights from Clark's night on his Instagram story adding a short, two-word reaction: 

"BANG BANG."

James has repeatedly shown support for Clark throughout her rise, and this latest nod added to that. 

Clark's stat line backed up every bit of the attention from James, as is evident from the Instagram story, as posted by Hoop Central on X. Her eight threes broke her previous career high of seven, and she finished an efficient 13-of-24 from the field, including 8-of-12 from beyond the arc. The 37 points marked the second-highest scoring total of her WNBA career.

The combination of scoring and playmaking made the night even more historic. It was the fifth time in Clark's career she's recorded at least 30 points and 10 assists in a single game, a threshold the rest of WNBA history has combined to hit only four times.

Nights like this have increasingly become the norm during Clark's professional career. Her blend of shooting range, playmaking vision and competitive edge continues to produce performances that separate her from most of the league.

That's part of what makes James' reaction resonate. One of the greatest players in basketball history stopping to acknowledge a performance, in just two words, reflects what fans and analysts have been saying about Clark's ceiling since she entered the league.

Indiana needed Clark’s elite playmaking

The timing made the performance even more meaningful. Playing the second night of a back-to-back and missing starting center Aliyah Boston, the Fever entered the game having dropped two straight and looking to close out a tough road trip on a high note.

As per CBS Sports, Clark and Kelsey Mitchell carried the offensive load together. Mitchell put up 30 points of her own, and the Fever connected on a franchise-record 18 three-pointers as a team, turning the game into a shooting clinic from start to finish.

Clark controlled the pace throughout, pushing tempo, finding open teammates, and repeatedly making the Sky pay for any space they gave her from deep. By the fourth quarter, the game had shifted from competitive to a full showcase of her scoring range and vision.

For the Fever, the win offered a much-needed lift as they push toward the postseason. For Clark, it was another example that her impact extends well beyond the WNBA, as was evident from James’ comments.

Do you think Clark's night ranks among the best performances of her career so far? 

Written by

Zaid Quraishi

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi