Caitlin Clark’s 31 Points, 12 Assists Lead Fever Past Sky 100-81

In an electrifying showdown, Caitlin Clark showcased her prowess with a career-high of 31 points and 12 assists, propelling the Indiana Fever to a convincing 100-81 victory over the Chicago Sky. This game marked the final regular-season encounter between two promising rookies, Clark and Angel Reese.

Clark demonstrated impressive shooting, making 8 of 14 attempts, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc. This performance added to her standout season as she recorded her 11th double-double. Notably, she has become the first player in league history to achieve three games of at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in a single season.

On the opposing team, Reese contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds, reaching a milestone of 23 double-doubles, thus breaking a tie with Tina Charles. This achievement also enabled her to surpass Sylvia Fowles for the most double-doubles in a single season for the Chicago franchise. She accomplished this feat with just 1:32 remaining in the game, long after Clark and the Fever’s starters had exited. Furthermore, Reese set a rookie record with a total of 399 rebounds.

This decisive victory seemed to solidify Clark’s edge in the much-anticipated Rookie of the Year race. The Fever’s record improved to 16-16, while the Sky fell to 11-20, struggling to remain in playoff contention as the season approaches its conclusion.

The earlier matchups between these teams had been tightly contested, with a total margin of just 10 points across two games. However, this game developed into a clear rout, with Indiana setting a season-high in points and Chicago allowing their opponents to score a season-high as well.

The exciting encounter attracted a sellout crowd of 9,445 at Wintrust Arena, celebrated as Barbie Night—a reference to Reese’s college nickname at LSU, “Bayou Barbie.” Among the attendees were notable figures such as NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, Sue Bird, and soccer star Megan Rapinoe, adding to the atmosphere of the event.

Kelsey Mitchell was also a key player for the Fever, contributing 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, making it her sixth consecutive game scoring 20 or more points. NaLyssa Smith added 14 points, while Lexie Hull chipped in with 11. Clark highlighted the importance of teamwork, stating, “I think we just understand each other a lot better.” She emphasized the benefits of chemistry developed through consistent play, which has fostered confidence among the players.

Despite being outrebounded 42-31, the Fever capitalized on scoring opportunities, amassing 28 points in the paint and maintaining a shooting percentage of 48.5%, with an impressive 26 assists on 32 field goals.

Michaela Onyenwere led the Sky with 20 points, while Lindsay Allen and Rachel Banham contributed 19 and 14 points, respectively. The Sky were missing key player Chennedy Carter, who has been sidelined for two consecutive games due to health and safety protocols.

After a rocky start where the Sky jumped to a quick lead of 21-9, driven by Allen’s early scoring, the Fever quickly regrouped. With a strong finish to the first quarter, they closed the gap to 26-23. Chicago had a remarkable performance, sinking four of their season-high nine 3-pointers within the opening quarter.

Clark reflected on the team’s performance, noting, “Minus the first six minutes of the game, I thought we were really good. We played sound defense.” She expressed pride in her teammates, emphasizing their ability to battle and maintain composure, especially against a formidable Chicago team known for their strong fourth-quarter performances.

Clark began the second quarter strong, hitting two consecutive 3-pointers to give the Fever an advantage. Indiana’s momentum was palpable as they launched into a 34-12 run, taking a 10-point lead with a three-pointer from Mitchell. Although Chicago briefly closed the gap to 47-41 by halftime, a technical foul on Aliyah Boston allowed Reese to start the second half with a free throw.

The Fever’s lead swelled to 11 early in the third quarter, and despite Chicago’s effort to stay competitive, Indiana maintained control. Damiris Dantas added a 3-pointer just before the end of the third, concluding the quarter with Indiana leading 76-64, fueled by Smith’s 11 points in that frame.

The Fever’s lead peaked at 27 points before Chicago mounted a late 10-2 run to close the game.