The Las Vegas Aces pulled off one of the most dramatic comebacks of the WNBA season Thursday night, erasing a 20-point deficit and beating the Indiana Fever 86-84 in overtime on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Chelsea Gray. The shot capped a wild finish in which Gray also hit a buzzer-beater at the end of regulation to force the extra period. But the game was defined as much by Fever star Caitlin Clark's late miscues as by Gray's heroics, sparking intense criticism from fans and media personalities.

Gray's double buzzer-beaters stun Indiana

Chelsea Gray delivered two of the biggest shots of her career in a matter of minutes. With the Fever leading by three in the final seconds of regulation, Gray rose up from beyond the arc and drilled a contested three-pointer as time expired, sending the game to overtime and silencing the home crowd in Indiana. The Aces, who had trailed by as many as 20 points in the first half, suddenly had all the momentum.

Overtime was just as chaotic. The Fever managed to regain a one-point lead late, and with seven seconds remaining, they had possession and a chance to seal the win. But Clark, trying to run out the clock, lost the ball in the backcourt, giving the Aces one final opportunity. Gray made them pay, catching the inbounds pass and draining another step-back three at the buzzer to give the defending champions an improbable victory.

It was a stunning turn of events for a Fever team that had controlled much of the game. Indiana built its lead behind strong first-half shooting and looked poised to snap a losing streak against a top Western Conference opponent. But the Aces, known for their championship pedigree, never stopped fighting. Gray's two clutch triples were the exclamation points on a comeback that will be remembered for years.

Clark's late-game collapse draws scrutiny

While Gray's buzzer-beaters were spectacular, the focus after the game turned to Clark's uncharacteristic mistakes. The Fever star missed two free throws with seven seconds left in regulation while her team was up by three. Those misses allowed Gray's tying three to force overtime. Then in the extra period, Clark committed a turnover on a drive with seven seconds on the clock and the Fever ahead by one, directly setting up Gray's game-winner.

Clark finished with 20 points, eight assists, and eight turnovers on 7-of-20 shooting, including just 2-of-10 from 3-point range. The eight turnovers were a season high for the All-Star guard, and her missed free throws were especially jarring given her reputation as one of the most reliable shooters from the line in the league.

Social media erupted immediately after the final buzzer. Some fans slammed Clark for what they perceived as foul baiting during the game, arguing that her focus on drawing contact rather than making clean plays came back to bite her in the most crucial moments. Others simply criticized her decision-making in the closing seconds, with one tweet reading, "Caitlin Clark sold that game. You can't miss free throws like that and then hand the ball to the other team." Another user wrote, "She was a liability down the stretch. Great player, but that was a choke job."

Clark accepts blame

Clark did not shy away from responsibility after the loss. Speaking to reporters in a subdued locker room, she repeatedly placed the loss on her shoulders. "That's on me," she said. "I missed free throws I normally make, and I had a bad turnover in overtime. This can't happen." She also acknowledged the team's broader failures, noting that blowing a 20-point lead was a collective problem, but she refused to deflect blame for her own execution.

Her coach, Stephanie White, came to her defense. White emphasized that Clark's competitive fire and willingness to take responsibility are part of what makes her great, and she rejected the notion that one bad stretch defines her. "Caitlin is not the reason we lost the game," White said. "We had plenty of opportunities as a team. She's going to learn from this, and she's going to be better because of it."

Several of Clark's teammates also voiced support, noting that the Fever would not have been in position to win without her contributions throughout the game. But the criticism from outside the locker room was loud and immediate.

Skip Bayless and media pundits pile on

Prominent sports commentator Skip Bayless was among the most vocal critics. On his daily show, Bayless slammed Clark's late-game execution, calling her mistakes "terrible" and saying she had "choked at the line" when it mattered most. He also pointed out that Clark's eight turnovers were a major factor in allowing the Aces to storm back, and he questioned whether she could be trusted in crunch time against elite defensive teams.

Other outlets and analysts echoed similar sentiments. Pro Football Network wrote that Clark had endured "one of her toughest finishes of the season," while Athlon Sports highlighted Bayless's comments and asked whether Clark had lost confidence in pressure situations. Even some of Clark's biggest supporters acknowledged that Thursday's collapse was a setback, if only in terms of public perception.

But not everyone blamed Clark entirely. Some analysts noted that the Fever's defensive breakdowns in the final minutes enabled Gray to get clean looks, and that the Aces' championship experience was the ultimate difference. Still, the imagery of Clark missing free throws and then turning the ball over with the game on the line was difficult to shake.

A historic collapse in the making

The Fever led by as many as 20 points in the first half and held a comfortable cushion for most of the night. According to ESPN's win probability model, Indiana had roughly a 57% chance to win entering the game, and that number climbed as the lead grew. But the Aces gradually chipped away, fueled by their defense and timely shooting. By the fourth quarter, Las Vegas had cut the deficit to single digits, setting up Gray's heroics.

For the Fever, the loss was a painful reminder of how fragile late-game leads can be. It also highlighted a recurring issue: Indiana has struggled to close out strong teams, especially when Clark is pressured into difficult decisions. The Fever's stated goal entering the season was to contend for a championship, and games like this will only invite more scrutiny.

The Aces, meanwhile, showed why they are still the team to beat. Even while trailing by double digits, they remained composed and executed down the stretch. Gray, who has built a career on clutch performances, added another signature moment to her résumé. Her celebration after the game-winner was muted, but her teammates mobbed her on the court as fireworks went off in the background.

Clark's postgame comments were a mix of frustration and resolve. She repeatedly said "this can't happen" and acknowledged that the Fever had given the game away. But she also hinted at future motivation: "I'll remember this one for a while. It's going to make me work even harder."

As the WNBA season rolls on, Thursday night's game will be a topic of debate for weeks. Was it a catastrophic collapse by Indiana or a brilliant comeback by Las Vegas? Was Clark's late-game failure a one-time blip or the beginning of a concerning pattern? Those questions will linger as the Fever look to bounce back from one of the most painful losses of the year.

Source: Yahoo Sports News