Jewell Loyd scores 32 before sellout of 18,000, Seattle holds off Caitlin Clark and Fever 85-83

SEATTLE (AP) — The decisive losses Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever endured to start the WNBA season were easier to handle than the last two setbacks that were decided by a total of six points.

Jewell Loyd scored 21 of her 32 points in the first half, Sami Whitcomb scored all 10 of her points in the fourth quarter, and the Seattle Storm held off Clark and the Fever 85-83 on Wednesday night, two days after Indiana's 88-84 loss to the Connecticut Sun.

“These two definitely hurt the most. We're what, six points away from being 2-3 instead of 0-5,” Clark said. “It's just that close and there's so many instances going back and watching the film and little things you can easily fix and clean up that would go a really long way.”

Loyd, last year’s leading scorer in the WNBA, shook off a sluggish start to the season to post the 22nd 30-point game of her career. Loyd and Whitcomb combined for 18 of Seattle’s 27 points in the fourth quarter, and the Storm (2-3) needed all those points to hold off a late rally and keep the Fever (0-5) winless.

“I just kind of cleared my head. I was in a good headspace coming into today's game. ... I just kind of reset and changed my routine a little bit and then caught a little rhythm,” Loyd said.

Clark finished with a team-high 21 points two days after rolling her left ankle in the home loss to Connecticut. She struggled early against Seattle, but sparked a third-quarter rally and helped give the Fever a 60-58 lead going into the fourth.

While most of the sellout crowd of 18,343 — the largest for a game in Seattle — wore the green and gold of the Storm, there was a healthy smattering of Indiana and Iowa No. 22 jerseys and shirts for Clark.

The third quarter was a stretch where she looked like the Clark everyone came to know collegiately at Iowa when she was the national player of the year.

“It's still a process of learning when to be assertive,” Clark said. “Sometimes it's hard when you start off a little bit cold.”

Seattle led by as many as seven early in the fourth quarter. Clark’s three free throws with 1:50 left pulled the Fever within 79-77, but Seattle got baskets from Jordan Horston and Ezi Magbegor on consecutive possessions.

The final minute was filled with debated calls and multiple officials' reviews. The Fever pulled within 84-83 after two free throws by Clark. Seattle committed a turnover with 11 seconds left, giving Indiana a chance to win.

Clark stumbled after the inbound pass and a jump ball with 4.7 seconds left between Aliyah Boston and Horston was tipped to Nneka Ogwumike, who hit one of two free throws. Indiana was out of timeouts and could only get Boston’s desperation attempt at the buzzer that was off line.

Ogwumike added 22 points after missing the past two games with an ankle injury.

“Today was one of those days where I knew I had to push through some things,” Ogwumike said. “I just pride myself on being efficient in every way.”

Clark put on a show the last time she was in the building during the 2023 NCAA Women’s Tournament when she helped lead Iowa to the Final Four, including a triple-double in the regional final.

On Wednesday, Clark missed her first four shots before scoring on a baseline drive early in the second quarter. Her first 3-pointer didn’t come until midway through the third quarter and she finished 6 of 16 shooting, including 2 for 8 from behind the arc.

Seattle rookie Nika Muhl made her debut for Seattle after missing the first four games of the season due to visa issues. Muhl checked in late in the third quarter to a rousing ovation, only to see Clark knock down a 3 over her.

UP NEXT

Fever: At Los Angeles on Friday.

Storm: Hosts Washington on Saturday.

WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, right, signs autographs before the team's WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives as Seattle Storm guard Nika Muhl (1) defends during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Storm won 85-83. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston drives as Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike defends during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Storm won 85-83. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

A young fan holds a sign for Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during the second half of the Fever's WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Storm won 85-83. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) is defended by Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd (24) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Storm won 85-83. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Storm guard Nika Muhl, left, and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark greet each other following a WNBA basketball game, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Storm won 85-83. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Storm guard Nika Muhl, left, and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark pose for photos following a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Storm won 85-83. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) moves the ball as Indiana Fever center Temi Fagbenle, left, and guard Caitlin Clark defend during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Storm won 85-83. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives as Seattle Storm guard Nika Muhl defends during the second half of a WNBA basketball game, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Storm won 85-83. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives as Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd (24) defends during the second half of a WNBA basketball game, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Storm won 85-83. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is defended by Seattle Storm center Ezi Magbegor (13) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark signs autographs before the team's WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Storm guard Nika Muhl warms up for the team's WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, right, drives against Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd (24) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd (24) drives against Indiana Fever guard Kristy Wallace (3) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball as Seattle Storm guard Sami Whitcomb (32) defends during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) points downcourt as Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) runs nearby during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

PHOENIX (AP) — A judge on Friday rejected an effort by GOP lawmakers to use the term “unborn human being” to refer to a fetus in the pamphlet that Arizona voters will use to weigh a ballot measure that would expand abortion access in the state.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Whitten said the wording the legislative council suggested is “packed with emotion and partisan meaning” and asked for what he called more “neutral” language. The measure aims to expand abortion access from 15 weeks to 24 weeks – the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb.

It would allow exemptions to save the woman’s life or to protect her physical or mental health. It would also prevent the state from adopting or enforcing laws that would forbid access to the procedure.

Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, who is a co-chair of the legislative council, said the group will appeal the court’s decision to the state Supreme Court.

“The ruling is just plain wrong and clearly partisan,” said Toma, a Republican.

The State Supreme Court has until Aug. 27 to rule on the appeal for the language to be changed.

Aaron Thacker, communications director for Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, noted that the final decision on the ballot itself remains in the air.

“There’s still a lot of scenarios at play," he said. "Even after the secretary certifies the signatures, the courts have to decide if counties can put it on the ballot or not."

Arizona for Abortion Access, the organization leading the ballot measure campaign, sued the council earlier this month over the suggested language and advocated for the term “fetus,” which the council rejected.

Attorney General Kris Mayes wrote in a motion to submit an amicus brief that “fetus" and “pregnancy” are both neutral terms that the council could adopt.

“It’s incredibly important to us that Arizona voters get to learn more about and weigh our measure in objective and accurate terminology,” said Dawn Penich, communications director for the abortion access group.

Democrats have centered abortion rights in their campaigns in this year’s elections. Organizers in five other states have also proposed similar measures that would codify abortion access in their state constitutions: Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada and South Dakota.

Arizona organizers submitted more than double the amount of signatures needed for the measure to appear on the ballot.

FILE - Arizona abortion-rights supporters deliver over 800,000 petition signatures to the capitol to get abortion rights on the November general election ballot July 3, 2024, in Phoenix. A judge on Friday, July 26, rejected an effort by GOP lawmakers to use the term “unborn human being” to refer to a fetus in the pamphlet that Arizona voters will use to decide on a ballot measure that would expand abortion access in the state. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)