{"id":530189,"date":"2026-03-18T05:17:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T05:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/530189\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T05:17:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T05:17:11","slug":"caitlin-clark-named-mvp-as-team-usa-goes-5-0-indiana-pacers-lose-14th-straight-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/530189\/","title":{"rendered":"Caitlin Clark named MVP as Team USA goes 5-0; Indiana Pacers lose 14th straight game"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Caitlin Clark shined in her first game action since last July. (Photo: USAB)<\/p>\n

Happy Saint Patrick\u2019s Day and I hope you remembered to wear some green today.<\/p>\n

Here in Indianapolis, it\u2019s also 317 Day.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a great time to be a sports fan. And it\u2019s critical to have a fast internet connection and a sports package.<\/p>\n

Just today, I went from watching the USA women\u2019s basketball team to Pacers-Knicks, and then caught the World Baseball Classic championship game.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not a big baseball guy, but I\u2019ve found the WBC to be captivating (even if\u00a0\u2014 spoiler alert \u2014 USA came up short to Venezuela). It all goes back to the pageantry, and how meaningful these games were for the players representing their home countries.<\/p>\n

March Madness tips off this week \u2014\u00a0no, the First Four games don\u2019t count \u2014\u00a0and the Noblesville Boom are back home. And don\u2019t forget, the NCAA men\u2019s final four will be held in Indy April 4-6.<\/p>\n

All positive things to enjoy while the Pacers are in a down season. They suffered another loss Tuesday night\u2026<\/p>\n

The Pacers are scheduled to hold an open house for potential season-ticket holders on March 31. I expect there to be strong demand next season as fans are already looking forward to the return of Tyrese Haliburton, paired together with Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac for the first time.<\/p>\n

Expansion is coming in the NBA. Shams Charania reported on Monday what had been privately discussed for years \u2014\u00a0the addition of two more teams: in Seattle and Las Vegas. More will be known following a Board of Governors meeting next week.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think most of us assumed it\u2019s not a question of if, it\u2019s when,\u201d Rick Carlisle said in New York. \u201c\u2026 I\u2019m very certain that it\u2019s all been looked into very carefully. If it\u2019s what\u2019s best for the game, it\u2019ll happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

NBA announced the return of a global marketing partnership with Coca-Cola Company \u2014 and Sprite back as the league\u2019s official soft drink, replacing Starry.<\/p>\n

Trayce Jackson-Davis was assigned to Raptors 905 for another G League stint and, again, he produced: 22 points, nine rebounds, five assists in 34 minutes.<\/p>\n

Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull plans to launch her beauty brand, Forta Cosmetics, on March 31. It\u2019s been years in the works for the Stanford grad.<\/p>\n

Negotiations for the WNBA are ongoing as league officials are now in week two with the players union inside a Manhattan hotel. They\u2019re now a week past March 10 \u2014\u00a0the date the league threw out there as needed to finalize a deal so that lawyers could get to it, then work their way down the lengthy check list. First up will be an expansion draft for two teams without any players currently: Toronto and Portland.<\/p>\n

Fever forward Brianna Turner is on the executive committee, serving as the treasurer. She\u2019s been in Manhattan for negotiations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe W\u2019s rising, so many people are turning to women\u2019s sports, watching women\u2019s sports, supporting women\u2019s sports, buying merch from the games, the tickets, new media rights deals. So the WNBA is trending,\u201d she said last Sept. \u201cWe don\u2019t just wanna sit at the table, we wanna be at the head of the table. We wanna be there, our voices to be heard.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Clark presented a watch by tournament organizers. (Photo: FIBA)<\/p>\n

Clark returned to competitive action in a big way. She was presented with a Tissot watch late Tuesday as she was named Most Valuable Player of the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan.<\/p>\n

It was announced after Puerto Rico defeated New Zealand in the final game of the tournament. <\/p>\n

Clark played off the bench in all but one game, averaging 11.6 points and a tournament-best 6.4 assists per game while playing about 20 minutes per game. The coaches played her in multiple roles \u2014 off ball on the wing and also at point guard with the ball in her hand.<\/p>\n

So just imagine how much better her numbers would be if she played 1) more minutes and 2) more possessions at point guard.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, it was very clear every time she checked in. Because you could hear it. There weren\u2019t many fans in the stands, but those that were cheered especially loud for Clark \u2014 the latest example of her being The Needle.<\/p>\n

All five games were also picked up by TNT Sports, airing on TruTV and HBO Max.<\/a><\/p>\n

Team USA went 5-0 without much resistance, though Spain played them close throughout.<\/p>\n

110-46 v Senegal<\/p>\n

91-48 v Puerto Rico<\/p>\n

93-59 v Italy<\/p>\n

101-46 v New Zealand<\/p>\n

84-70 v Spain<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Caitlin Clark averaged 11.6 points and 6.4 assists per game. (Photo: USAB)<\/p>\n

This was Clark\u2019s first game action since suffering groin and ankle injuries last summer that kept her from returning. She returned to 100% after the Fever season ended in late September, and then she participated at USA camp in December. She detailed how it was a long, grueling road back<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More than that, it was Clark\u2019s first time playing for USA Basketball\u2019s Senior Team – so she had butterflies<\/a>. She had been on several of their junior teams, but was passed on for the 2024 Olympics.<\/p>\n

Kahleah Copper scored 20 points in their win over Spain \u2014\u00a0they\u2019re now 12-0 all-time against Spain \u2014\u00a0and Clark added seven points, two rebounds, and seven assists in 23 minutes.<\/p>\n

Fever General manager Amber Cox and athletic trainer Maria Witte were in San Juan to support Clark. I also saw her dad, Brent Clark, in the stands.<\/p>\n

Cox tweeted:<\/a> \u201cA fun few days in San Juan watching CC, Steph and Team USA compete. What a talented group! Incredibly happy for CC – she worked her tail off to get back on the court!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"X<\/p>\n

FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup@FIBAWWC<\/p>\n

Second MVP award at only 24. Caitlin Clark, you\u2019re an incredible hooper. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8<\/p>\n

#FIBAWWC x #WeOwnTheGame <\/p>\n

1:54 AM \u00b7 Mar 18, 2026 \u00b7 1.35K Views<\/p>\n

3 Replies \u00b7 78 Reposts \u00b7 181 Likes<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

This is a week to remember for Clark, for many reasons. And just the beginning of what should be a decorated career with USA Basketball.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a new Pacers franchise record.<\/p>\n

A new record of 13 was set earlier this season, going without a win from Dec. 12 to Jan. 8. It was a while for Carlisle to wait for a memorable win, No. 1000 for his NBA coaching career.<\/p>\n

But now it\u2019s worse.<\/p>\n

Their last win was the final game before All-Star break in Brooklyn. On the second night of a back-to-back they piled up two straight wins in New York \u2014\u00a0first defeating the Knicks in overtime, followed by the Nets.<\/p>\n

That was back on Feb. 11, five weeks ago. So during two stretches, the Pacers have gone more than nine weeks combined without a victory, which is not easy on anyone. With less than one month left in this season \u2014\u00a0one nobody will want to experience again \u2014\u00a0it\u2019s imperative that the Pacers preach about the standard, still hold each other accountable, and continue to play hard until the end.<\/p>\n

It will not be easy to stay focused, but these are not meaningless games, especially for those on the fringe of the rotation. Every game rep matters, as does every minute.<\/p>\n

Losing isn\u2019t fun or easy, so it\u2019s also important for them to keep it light during this dark period where all eyes are already on the important draft lottery on May 10.<\/p>\n

The Pacers have plummeted to the bottom of the league standings, now 15-54 with 13 games remaining.<\/p>\n

\"X<\/p>\n

Ben Stiller@BenStiller<\/p>\n

Look forward to full strength Indiana next year<\/p>\n

1:45 AM \u00b7 Mar 18, 2026 \u00b7 15.6K Views<\/p>\n

41 Replies \u00b7 18 Reposts \u00b7 401 Likes<\/p>\n

<\/a>\"X<\/p>\n

Jenny Boucek@jboucek<\/p>\n

@BenStiller We will be back<\/p>\n

2:15 AM \u00b7 Mar 18, 2026 \u00b7 972 Views<\/p>\n

2 Replies \u00b7 13 Reposts \u00b7 57 Likes<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

The Pacers were competitive for two quarters against the Knicks, but struggled in taking care of the ball, protecting the paint, and getting stops.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey played a championship-caliber game tonight,\u201d Carlisle said postgame. \u201cThey were dominant on the boards, they were dominant shooting the ball, they were dominant in the ball security department.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t play with enough presence to get them out of any rhythm at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Pacers were outscored 22-13 to begin the second half. Falling behind by 17 points with 6:23 left in the third quarter, Carlisle made a full lineup change.<\/p>\n

Point guard T.J. McConnell, who has started in the last two games, recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 assists. He was one of six Pacers in double figures, highlighted by 16 points from Jarace Walker and 15 points in 18 minutes from New York native Obi Toppin.<\/p>\n

Toppin will be on a minutes restriction the rest of this season, kept to about 18 per game.<\/p>\n

Wednesday will be the final game of difficult stretch of five games in seven days \u2014 and includes two sets of back-to-backs. The Portland Trail Blazers (33-36) have split their last eight games. They\u2019re already in Indianapolis after handling Brooklyn on Monday 114-95.<\/p>\n

He has been out of sight, away from cameras for the last month after being diagnosed with shingles during the All-Star break<\/a>. Haliburton is on the trip, so he was back in Milwaukee on Monday.<\/p>\n

However, he has not returned to his usual position on the bench.<\/p>\n

Having shingles is truly a pain. Something that inevitably has impacted his recovery, though he wasn\u2019t planning to play until next September anyway.<\/p>\n

Ralph Reiff, a longtime athletic trainer in central Indianapolis who most recently oversaw Butler University sports athletic training, passed along a story he wrote about the potential connection \u2014\u00a0\u201cwhy rehabilitation creates immune vulnerability.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

The Psychological Stress Dimension\u2026<\/p>\n

This is the most underappreciated factor in athletic immune health. Research consistently identifies psychological stress as a primary trigger for virus reactivation \u2014 independent of physical stressors.<\/p>\n

Loss of identity, role, and team participation is a documented psychological stressor in elite sport<\/p>\n

The anxiety of return-to-play uncertainty elevates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, chronically elevating cortisol.<\/p>\n

Players on two-way contracts may be active for up to 50 games. To be clear, it\u2019s being designated as active\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and not whether they play or not.<\/p>\n

They have 13 games left after playing in New York. Jalen Slawson was active.<\/p>\n

I enjoyed this commentary from Kyle Brandt on NFL Network. He\u2019s exactly right \u2014 whether it\u2019s an athlete, co-worker, or server at a restaurant, saying one\u2019s name correctly is important.<\/p>\n

But too often, athletes in particular get tired of correcting so they just let it be.<\/p>\n

\"X<\/p>\n

Kyle Brandt@KyleBrandt<\/p>\n

Your name is sacred. Protect it and ask people to speak it properly. <\/p>\n

2:26 PM \u00b7 Mar 16, 2026 \u00b7 2.19M Views<\/p>\n

406 Replies \u00b7 2.51K Reposts \u00b7 22.3K Likes<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

A name is sacred; it’s important. It matters. And it is a respect thing.<\/p>\n

When I\u2019m calling games, the No. 1 thing to me \u2014 other than time and score \u2014 is getting the names right. Because it matters and they deserve it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Caitlin Clark shined in her first game action since last July. (Photo: USAB) Happy Saint Patrick\u2019s Day and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":530190,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[99,434],"class_list":["post-530189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wnba","tag-sports","tag-wnba"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/530189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=530189"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/530189\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/530190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=530189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=530189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=530189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}