Caitlin Clark's strange bout of vomiting against Aces sets her free: “I threw up everything in my stomach at halftime”

Caitlin Clark didn't simply play through exhaustion in Game 2 against the Las Vegas Aces . She pushed herself beyond it.

With the Indiana Fever facing elimination, Clark produced one of the most complete performances of her WNBA career, finishing with 27 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds in a 99-89 victory that forced a deciding Game 3.

The numbers were historic, but the clearest sign of her effort came away from the court.

“To be honest, I threw up everything in my stomach at halftime,” Clark said afterward. “Like, I was just out there so tired. It wasn't because I didn't feel good or anything. I just was that gassed.”

The remark captured the intensity of a night in which Clark refused to conserve energy with Indiana’s season on the line. The Fever had lost Game 1 and entered Tuesday knowing another defeat would end their playoff run.

Clark took over when Indiana needed response

Indiana trailed by eight after the first quarter, but Clark steadily changed the rhythm of the game.

By halftime, she already had 14 points and 11 assists, creating shots for teammates while also stretching the Aces ’ defense with her own perimeter scoring.

She became the first player in WNBA playoff history to record at least 25 points and 15 assists in the same game. The physical toll of that effort became obvious once she reached the locker room.

“Sometimes I drink too much water,” Clark said. “Like, not to be gross, but like, it's an incredible amount of throw-up. So, sorry to anybody that was sitting in the vicinity of that trash can.”

She still returned for the second half and remained central to Indiana’s closing push. Clark hit a late three-pointer to make it 90-79 before setting up Aliyah Boston for another important basket moments later.

Clark eventually fouled out with 2:45 remaining, the first time that had happened in her WNBA career, but Indiana protected the lead without her.

Fever finally show the edge Clark wanted

The performance carried extra weight because Clark had never won a WNBA playoff game before Tuesday.

Indiana was swept in the opening round last season and had been comfortably beaten 102-85 by Las Vegas in Game 1. That left Clark and the Fever with no margin for error.

“You're only guaranteed another 40 minutes,” Clark added. “So just really proud of this group. I think we showed, like, what we're capable of. We just had to find the consistency.”

Clark also pointed to the change in Indiana’s mentality after a passive opening-game performance: “I think that's what we really lacked the first game, and that's what we talked about as a team. Like, don’t be soft.”

The Fever now head back to Las Vegas for a winner-take-all Game 3 with a semifinal place at stake. Clark has already shown how far she is willing to push herself to keep Indiana alive.

Her joke afterward suggested she may be prepared to do it all over again. “Let's throw up again in the second half of the next game,” she said.