Caitlin Clark was a major reason an announced crowd of 18,978 came to Target Center for the WNBA game between the Lynx and her Indiana Fever.
In the end, Clark was a big part of the reason the Fever picked up the win.
The former Iowa Hawkeye returned to the scene of her old team's Big Ten championship triumph, scoing 17 points as Indiana got by the Lynx 81-74.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 points, and Aliyah Boston added 17 points and 16 rebounds for Indiana (11-14), which has won back-to-back games and three of its last four.
Clark set up Boston for a layup before Katie Lou Samuelson fed Boston for another basket inside to give the Fever a four-point lead with 2 minutes to go. Kayla McBride cut the deficit to a point with a 3-pointer just 8 seconds later but Clark was fouled and made two free throws to make it 77-74. Mitchell swooped in to block a layup attempt by Alanna Smith with 22 seconds remaining, was fouled and hit two free throws to make it a five-point game with 16 seconds left and Clark made two fouls shots to cap the scoring 6 seconds later.
Alanna Smith had 18 points, eight rebounds and four steals despite being forced to the bench by foul trouble in the second half for Minnesota (16-8). Bridget Carleton tied her career high with five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
The announced attendance is the largest regular season crowd in Lynx history.
Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier (foot) missed her fourth consecutive game.
Courtney Williams made a layup that tied the score at 50-all, Dorka Juhasz followed with a layup, Clark was called for a technical foul and McBride hit the ensuing free throw before Carleton hit a 3 and Williams hit two foul shots to take an eight-point lead with a minute to go in the third quarter.
Clark, who made 1 of 9 from behind the arc in the first three quarters, hit a deep contested 3 to open the fourth. Mitchell and Samuelson each added a 3 to make it 63-63 with 8 minutes to play.
Samuelson made a left-hand scoop shot high off the glass with the shot clock winding down and Clark shook her defender with a series of moves for a wide-open layup that gave the Fever a 67-65 lead with 6:44 to go. Alanna Smith answered with a 3 about a minute later but Mitchell responded with a step-back jumper and then grabbed the rebound of a miss by Clark and made the putback to make it 71-68. Cecilia Zandalasini made a step-back 3-pointer to tie it again with 4:26 left.
Boston had 11 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in the first half.