Record WNBA Crowd Watches Clark and Fever Fall to Mystics in Finale

In an exhilarating matchup at Capital One Arena, Sika Kone shined by scoring a career-high 20 points, leading the Washington Mystics to a narrow 92-91 victory over the Indiana Fever on Thursday night. This thrilling game drew a record crowd of 20,711 fans, marking the highest attendance in WNBA history.

With this win, the Mystics improved their season record to 14-26, but it was bittersweet. They entered the game hoping to secure a final playoff position, which hinged on Atlanta Dream’s performance. Unfortunately for Washington, Atlanta’s victory against New York meant the Mystics were unable to claim the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.

Ariel Atkins and Emily Engstler were vital contributors for Washington, each adding 17 points. Brittney Sykes and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough made significant contributions as well, scoring 12 points apiece.

On the other hand, the Indiana Fever, already assured of the No. 6 playoff seed, chose to rest their starters in the latter half of the game. Rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, who has had a remarkable season, finished with eight points, eight assists, and five rebounds over 20 minutes. This game marked an unusual outing for Clark, as it was her first under ten points since June 13.

Kristy Wallace was the standout for Indiana, leading her team with 17 points. NaLyssa Smith supported with 16 points, while Aliyah Boston and Katie Lou Samuelson both contributed ten points each. Indiana will now look to prepare for their upcoming playoff series against the No. 3 seed Connecticut, beginning this Sunday.

The remarkable attendance was facilitated by the game being hosted at Capital One Arena, a venue much larger than the Mystics’ typical home at the Entertainment & Sports Arena, which can accommodate just 4,200 fans.

Although Washington struggled in the fourth quarter, making only 3 of 15 shots, the Fever was unable to capitalize fully. With about a minute left, following a basket by Wallace that narrowed the score to 92-91, Indiana missed three crucial shots that could have turned the game around.

In a nail-biting finish, Samuelson’s attempt to score with just 7.7 seconds remaining fell short. Even though Grace Berger managed to secure the offensive rebound, her shot at the buzzer also missed, sealing the Mystics’ victory.

The game had a rocky start for Washington, as the Fever jumped to an early 20-2 lead, taking advantage of the Mystics’ cold shooting. Washington didn’t score until Kone’s three-point play ended the Fever’s impressive opening run. By the end of the first quarter, the Mystics had managed to trim the Fever’s lead to just 24-22.

By halftime, Washington turned the game around, taking control with a score of 52-45. The Mystics excelled offensively, shooting an impressive 60% from the field in the second quarter.

In the second half, Washington continued their momentum by launching a 12-4 run right out of the gate, extending their lead to 82-66 by the end of the third quarter. Despite already securing their place in the postseason, Kelsey Mitchell’s performance was noteworthy, as she became the first player alongside Jia Perkins to participate in 233 regular-season games before making her playoff debut.