Caitlin Clark believes it is good for the Indiana Fever to face some adversity early in the WNBA season, after the Atlanta Dream inflicted their first defeat of 2025.

The 2024 Rookie of the Year continued her fine start to the new campaign on Tuesday, putting up a game-high 27 points in Georgia after having a triple-double in Saturday's season-opening win over the Chicago Sky.

Clark also had 11 assists and five rebounds, passing Sabrina Ionescu for the most 25-point, 10-assist games in WNBA history, according to ESPN.

It was also her fourth game with at least 25 points, 10 assists and five successful 3-point attempts, as many as every other player combined in the history of the league.

However, that was not enough in front of a huge crowd at State Farm Arena, as Rhyne Howard made a go-ahead free throw with 9.1 seconds left for Atlanta, who won 91-90.

The Dream pulled level with the Fever at 1-1 with the victory, though Indiana will get a swift opportunity for revenge when the teams face off again on Thursday.

"We wanted to win this game, but this is great for our team," Clark said. "A little adversity, how are we going to respond? 

"I have to give my team a lot of credit; we never gave up. We found a way to get back into it.

"We have a chance to go there and play them again. We can get a little redemption if we go down there and play well."

Caitlin Clark in tonight's game vs. Atlanta: pic.twitter.com/orn2OQQccB

— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 21, 2025

Indiana coach Stephanie White, meanwhile, thought the defeat demonstrated how opponents will look to deal with the Fever, who are among this season's championship favourites.

"We didn't handle their physicality. That's going to be the M.O. against us all year long," White said. "Teams are going to be physical. That's how I'd play against us.

"They're going to push us, they're going to shove us, they're going to hold us. 

"They're going to do whatever they're allowed to get away with, and we have figure out how to use that physicality against them."