Caitlin Clark and Fever Stay Hot, Defeating Angel Reese and Sky

In a thrilling showdown on Friday night, Caitlin Clark delivered a performance to remember, scoring a career-high 31 points while dishing out 12 assists. Her outstanding play helped the Indiana Fever secure a commanding 100-81 victory over the struggling Chicago Sky.

Clark managed to shoot 8-for-14 from the field, including an impressive 5-for-9 beyond the arc, marking her 11th double-double of the season. She has solidified her status as a standout rookie with three games of at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in this season alone. Additionally, Clark made history by becoming the first WNBA player to score or assist on over 50 points in four different games within a single season.

On the other side, Angel Reese also made headlines, contributing 10 points and 11 rebounds. By reaching this milestone, she surpassed Tina Charles’ rookie record for double-doubles, notching her 23rd and breaking Sylvia Fowles’ season record for the Sky. Reese achieved this new record late in the game, long after Clark and her counterparts had exited the court. Furthermore, Reese set a rookie mark with 399 rebounds for the season.

This matchup played a crucial role in the tight Rookie of the Year race, with Clark’s popping performance edging ahead of Reese’s solid contributions. The win maintained Indiana’s hopeful playoff position, as they improved to 16-16. Meanwhile, the Sky, now at 11-20, are precariously clinging to the final playoff spot.

While earlier encounters between these teams were tightly contested, with a combined margin of only 10 points in their first two matchups, Indiana’s latest victory showcased a striking difference. This game marked the highest score for the Fever in the season, while the Sky suffered their largest points given up in a game this year.

“I thought we played really well, and this was a big win for us,” Clark stated after the game. “In a playoff race, it really feels like it counts for two. We wanted to take the season series from them, which was an important focus for us.”

The atmosphere at Wintrust Arena was electric, with a sellout crowd of 9,445 in attendance for what was dubbed “Barbie Night,” a tribute to Reese’s college nickname at LSU, Bayou Barbie. Notable figures like Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, former Seattle Storm player Sue Bird, and soccer icon Megan Rapinoe were spotted among the fans.

Kelsey Mitchell also shone for the Fever, scoring 23 points with an impressive 9-for-13 shooting performance. This marked her sixth consecutive game scoring at least 20 points. NaLyssa Smith and Lexie Hull chipped in with 14 and 11 points, respectively. “I think we just understand each other a lot better now,” Clark remarked about the Fever’s chemistry on the court. “The more we play together, the more confidence we build.”

Despite being outrebounded 42-31, the Fever managed to score 28 points in the paint and exhibited robust teamwork with a shooting percentage of 48.5%, backed by 26 assists on 32 field goals.

For Chicago, Michaela Onyenwere led with 20 points, while Lindsay Allen added 19 and Rachel Banham scored 14. The Sky faced challenges with the absence of Chennedy Carter, who missed her second consecutive game due to health and safety protocols.

The game began with a strong surge from Chicago, who initially took a 21-9 lead. However, Indiana rallied to finish the first quarter strong, finishing with a 12-2 run and only trailing 26-23. The Sky capitalized on three-pointers, marking four out of their season-high nine in the first quarter.

“Minus the first six minutes of the game, I thought we played really well defensively,” Clark noted. “We showed resilience and didn’t let them come back at the end, which has been a problem before.”

Clark started the second quarter strong, sinking a pair of 3-pointers that helped the Fever gain the lead. They appeared to gain momentum with a run of 34-12 with Mitchell contributing a pivotal three-pointer. At the halftime mark, the Sky managed to close the gap to 47-41 thanks to a technical foul free throw by Reese, giving Chicago the additional point.

The Fever pushed the lead to 11 early in the third quarter, but the Sky remained competitive until late in the third when Dantas’ three-pointer and Hull’s free throws cemented a 76-64 advantage heading into the final quarter. The Fever expanded their lead to 27 points before a late push by Chicago saw them close the game with a 10-2 run.

Reese expressed her disappointment after the game, stating, “We can either go up or go down. We don’t want to keep losing, it’s not a good feeling for any of us.”

Source: Associated Press