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Fever rounding into form after signature win over Sun
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) smiles at an official during a game between the Fever and the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. INDIANAPOLIS STAR-USA TODAY Sports

Fever rounding into form after signature win over Sun

By Eric Smithling  |  Last updated Aug 28, 2024 9:23 PM ET

The Fever notched the signature win of their season on Wednesday, snapping an 11-game losing streak to the championship-contender Sun.

Importantly for Indiana, the 84-80 win over Connecticut wasn't solely "The Caitlin Clark Show." Yes, the No. 1 overall pick of April's WNBA Draft was outstanding, but she wasn't alone.

All five Fever starters scored in double-digits as Indiana made a massive statement about its playoff chances.

Connecticut (22-8) has already clinched a playoff berth and is tied with the Minnesota Lynx for the league's second-best record.

The Sun are the best defensive team in the WNBA, holding opponents to 73.7 points per game. They have excellent perimeter defense, ranking second in opponent three-point percentage (30.4%).

That meant little against the Fever on Wednesday. Indiana was 13-of-30 (43.3%) on its attempts from beyond the arc, tying the Lynx for the most threes in a game against the Sun this season.

Veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell led the way with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting (4-of-7 from deep).

She's been on fire since the league resumed play following the 2024 Paris Olympics. In Indiana's five games since the break, Mitchell is averaging 25.6 points on 49.5% shooting.

Her five consecutive games with at least 20 points is the longest streak in franchise history.

Head coach Christie Sides started guard Lexie Hull for just the second time this season, and she made her presence felt with 17 points while shooting 4-of-6 from three-point range and adding a career-high six offensive rebounds.

WNBA and NBA analyst Nekias Duncan shared before the game that the Fever's starting five against the Sun was an impressive plus-38 in 61 minutes entering the game.

While that unit was outscored on Wednesday, the five-woman lineup featuring Clark, Mitchell, Hull, Aliyah Boston and backup Temi Fagbenle had a significant advantage.

The Fever (15-16) are well-positioned for the playoffs because of the entire team's contributions, but Clark is the engine that's made their turnaround possible.

She set the WNBA rookie record for most threes made in a season when she drained her 86th early in the first quarter.

Later, Clark displayed her elite passing with a full-court heave to Hull after an Alyssa Thomas two-point bucket on the other end.

The Fever are 4-1 since the mid-season break and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They are hitting their stride after a rocky 3-10 start. 

After beating Connecticut, Indiana's officially the team no one wants to meet.

Eric Smithling
Twitter/X Muck Rack

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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