The Indiana Fever have had a resurgent second half of the season so far. Going into the All-Star break just above .500 record (13-12), the Fever were at a very precarious stage. With Caitlin Clark missing time due to injury yet again, fans were concerned if the Fever could even make the playoffs, let alone go on a deeper run. However, maybe the All-Star break was just what they needed as the team has been a roll ever since.
Despite missing their best player and leader, Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever have found their second wind and pushed through one of the toughest parts of the season. In Caitlin’s absence, Kelsey Mitchell has taken over the leadership duties. To aid her, players like Aliyah Boston, Sophie Cunningham, and Aari McDonald have also taken their game to the next level. The team’s collective play has helped them reach heights and made records that the Indiana Fever fans have not seen for a long time.
Their August 3 win against the Seattle Storm was the Indiana Fever’s fifth straight win. This was an incredible landmark as it had been a decade since the last time they won five-straight games. However, that’s not all. With that win, the Fever, for the first time since 2015, had a record above .500. This shows how remarkably the Fever squad rose after Caitlin Clark’s injury, that they were able to break two records. However, just like any great team, they did not settle for this. There was even some discontent among the players after the win against the Seattle Storm.
Appearing in a post-game press conference, Aari McDonald said “Well, I don’t think we were consistent tonight in how we played.” Sitting next to her, Kelsey Mitchell also echoed the same sentiment. And now, after the Fever’s surprise loss against the Los Angeles Sparks, Aliyah Boston also showed discontent with her own performance.
She said that she needs to work on her game through the four quarters. “I feel like my fourth quarters recently have been pretty solid, and that’s why I need to keep it up. But maybe a little bit more in the second and third, that’d be great too. But that fourth quarter has been working for me.”
Against the Phoenix Mercury (July 30), she scored 17 out of her 22 points in the fourth quarter. Similarly, against the game against the Seattle Storm, she scored nine straight points for Indiana during a fourth quarter stretch. She even iced the game after grabbing the rebound from Gabby Williams’ missed 3-pointer and then knocked down a free throw.
However, Aliyah Boston and her teammates’ comments are a clear indication of the hunger the Indiana Fever have. Even without their best player, they are not settling for excuses. Knowing this Fever squad, there’s no doubt the last night’s loss against the Los Angeles Sparks would’ve stung them as well.
Kelsey Mitchell has her third 30-point game, but the Fever miss out on a rare feat
Kelsey Mitchell has had a season to remember. With the faith Fever showed in bringing her back in the offseason, the expectations were very high. However, with her partner in crime missing a major chunk of the 2025 WNBA season, the roles changed quickly. However, Kelsey Mitchell has not buckled under the pressure. Rather, she improved further.
Jun 30, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) against the Phoenix Mercury during a WNBA game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
As of now, she is averaging 20 points per game for the first time in her career. Her performances this season have also resulted in her first-ever career 30-point game. Till now, she has had three 30-point games, with her latest being against the Los Angeles Sparks. However, this time around, she was unable to muster the troops and eke out the win. This win would’ve had a special significance.
With the win against the Sparks, the Indiana Fever could have achieved a rare feat of getting 4th-straight road wins. However, a 25-point and 11-assist double-double from Kelsey Plum spoiled their plans. Kelsey Plum’s performance was supplemented by a 25-point performance from Rickea Jackson and a 19-point night by Azura Stevens.
Despite their loss last night, the Indiana Fever are still sitting at the 5th seed and have a 1-game advantage over the Seattle Storm. However, with how close the teams are in the table, the Fever cannot afford to lose games to teams with a worse record. With Caitlin Clark’s return date still unclear, the Fever need to win the games that they should win.
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