Caitlin Clark, Fever stay hot, take down Angel Reese, Sky

Caitlin Clark had a career-high 31 factors and 12 assists in her last regular-season matchup with fellow rookie sensation Angel Reese, main the Indiana Fever to a dominating 100-81 win over the reeling Chicago Sky on Friday night time.

Clark shot 8-for-14 from the sphere, together with 5-for-9 on 3-pointers, in her eleventh double-double. She is the one participant to have three video games of not less than 25 factors and 10 assists in a season. And he or she is the primary WNBA participant to have 4 video games with 50-plus factors scored or assisted on in a single season.

On the opposite aspect, Reese had 10 factors and 11 rebounds, breaking a tie with Tina Charles for rookie double-doubles with 23 and passing Sylvia Fowles for the Chicago season document. Reese acquired the document with 1:32 to play, lengthy after Clark and the opposite Indiana starters left the sport. She additionally has a rookie document 399 rebounds.

Clark may need slammed the door on the much-hyped Rookie of the 12 months race because the Fever (16-16) beat the Sky (11-20) for the third time in 4 matchups, solidifying their possible playoff berth whereas Chicago is barely hanging on to the final spot because the season winds down.

The primary matchups have been determined by a complete of 10 factors with a pair of one-point wins for every group, whereas this one was a blowout. Indiana had a season finest for factors, and Chicago gave up a season excessive.

“I assumed we performed very well, and this was an enormous one for us,” Clark mentioned. “It virtually counts in direction of two whenever you’re in a playoff race, like a loss and a win. We knew it was an enormous one, but additionally we wished to win the season sequence with them. That was sort of a spotlight level.”

The sport drew a sellout crowd of 9,445 to Wintrust Enviornment on Barbie Night time — a nod to Reese’s faculty nickname at LSU, Bayou Barbie. The group included Professional Basketball Corridor of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, Sue Chicken — who had her personal Barbie doll throughout her Seattle Storm taking part in days — and soccer star Megan Rapinoe.

Kelsey Mitchell scored 23 factors on 9-for-13 taking pictures, her sixth straight sport of not less than 20 factors, for the Fever, who’re 5-1 for the reason that Olympic break. NaLyssa Smith contributed 14 factors, and Lexie Hull had 11.

“I believe we simply perceive one another so much higher,” Clark mentioned of the present stretch. “Having the chemistry and having the time to play with each other, you simply construct confidence. I believe you are seeing that. … I am pleased with this group. We’re been sharing the ball, we’re taking good pictures, and that is serving to our transition sport and it helps us on protection too.”

The Fever have been outrebounded 42-31 however had 28 factors within the paint and shot 48.5% with 26 assists on 32 baskets.

Michaela Onyenwere scored 20 factors to guide Chicago, which is 1-5 for the reason that Olympic break. Lindsay Allen had 19 factors, and Rachel Banham chipped in 14. The Sky have been with out Chennedy Carter (17.2 PPG), who sat out her second straight sport due to well being and security protocols.

With Allen tallying eight fast factors, Chicago scored 11 straight within the first quarter and turned that right into a 15-1 run to open a 21-9 lead. However Indiana closed the quarter on a 12-2 surge to path 26-23. The Sky had 4 of their season-high 9 3-pointers within the first quarter.

“Minus the primary six minutes of the sport, I assumed we have been actually good. We performed sound protection,” Clark mentioned. “I am simply pleased with this group. I assumed we battled, and we did not let it get shut on the finish, and that was sort of the issue final time we have been right here. We allow them to come again. We all know they seem to be a actually good fourth-quarter group, however we battled and figured it out.”

Clark opened the second quarter with a pair of 3-pointers to place the Fever up. In the end, their run was 34-12, good for a 10-point benefit on Mitchell’s 3-pointer. Chicago clawed again to 47-41 on the break, pending a Reese free throw to open the second half as the results of a technical on Aliyah Boston, who was upset at a non-call, because the half ended. She made the free throw, and it was a five-point sport getting into the second half.

The Fever pushed the result in 11 early within the third quarter, however the Sky stayed shut till Damiris Dantas hit a 3-pointer and Hull made two free throws after a hustle-play offensive rebound as time expired. It was 78-64 heading into the fourth quarter as Smith had 11 factors within the third.

The lead reached 27 earlier than Chicago closed with a 10-2 run.

“We are able to go up or we are able to go down,” Reese mentioned. “We do not wish to proceed to lose. It isn’t a great feeling for any of us.”

Info from The Related Press was used on this report.