CHICAGO — The Indiana Fever formally hit the .500 mark with a 100-81 victory over the Chicago Sky on Friday night time, ending a chippy sport with a 3-1 collection benefit on this budding rivalry.
The Sky had been aggressive all through the night time, committing two flagrant 1 fouls on Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. And with out their main scorer Chennedy Carter, the Sky simply could not sustain with the Fever, who notched their largest margin of victory (19) of the season. Clark completed with 31 factors and 12 assists. Sky rookie star Angel Reese had a double-double with 10 factors and 11 rebounds.
Insider:Even a Caitlin Clark airball is an effective signal for surging Fever. They’re enjoying with pleasure.
Extra:Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese targeted on successful video games, not Rookie of the 12 months, Fever star says
Listed below are three observations:
Fever management most of sport, get largest victory of 2024 season
At one level on this sport, the Fever trailed, 21-9. That did not final for lengthy.
After happening 12 factors, the Fever went on a 14-5 run of their very own to get inside three factors on the finish of the quarter. As soon as they acquired a lead within the second quarter, they did not look again.
With the Sky lacking the quickness and spacing of main scorer Chennedy Carter due to well being and security protocols, Indiana shortly piled up factors from the perimeter.
Indiana shot 13-of-29 from 3-point vary on Friday night time, which features a 5-of-9 mark from Fever rookie Caitlin Clark.
Clark, in the identical constructing she first set the Fever single-game file for assists, dropped 12 extra to her teammates on Friday night time and added 31 factors. Kelsey Mitchell scored 23 factors, marking her sixth straight sport with 20+ factors. Temi Fagbenle, who performed 18 minutes, had a +/- of 29 regardless of solely scoring three factors — a testomony to her defensive skills.
Fever get to .500 for first time since 2022
Having a .500 file is, by all means, not that a lot an accomplishment in most leagues. For some, you do not even make the playoffs with that form of file.
However for the Fever, it is an accomplishment they have not sniffed for years. Till Friday night time.
With Indiana’s win over the Sky on Friday night time, the Fever have formally damaged .500 for the primary time for the reason that 2022 season. That .500 file in 2022 got here at first of the season (2-2) earlier than dropping 5 video games in a row and in the end ending 5-31.
It was a 103-game streak, per ESPN Stats and Data, the Fever performed whereas being beneath .500. That is one achievement down for the surging staff. On Sunday, they’ve the prospect to do one thing that the franchise hasn’t seen since 2019: have a successful file at any level in the course of the season. Indiana performs Dallas, which is 8-22, on the street on Sunday for an opportunity at that elusive successful file.
To have a .500 file this late within the season is large for the Fever — often, with eight of the league’s 12 groups going to the playoffs, not all groups have .500 or higher file on the finish of the season.
With the 2022 No. 2 decide (NaLyssa Smith) and 2023 and 2024 No. 1 picks (Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark), this enchancment has been a very long time coming for the Fever. This season particularly, it is a signal of stark and quick enchancment for a staff that hasn’t seen the playoffs since 2016.
Win helps Fever’s WNBA playoffs implications
This was an enormous sport for the Fever when it comes to potential playoff implications. A win means the Fever have the official head-to-head benefit vs. Chicago within the case of an eventual tie close to the underside of the standings.
The Fever now have the head-to-head collection victories over each the Sky and the Atlanta Dream — the 2 groups combating for the No. 8 spot within the playoffs. So, if the Fever had been to finish up tying with both of these groups within the standings, they might get the extra favorable spot.
This additionally applies to the Phoenix Mercury — a staff the Fever swept this season. Each the Fever and the Mercury are 16-16 following Indiana’s win, and which means the Fever would formally be within the No. 6 playoff spot if the season ended at present.
After eight years out of the playoffs, the Fever might plausibly end as excessive as sixth this yr.
What number of factors did Caitlin Clark rating in opposition to the Sky?
Caitlin Clark scored 31 factors on 8-of-14 capturing (5-of-9 from 3). She additionally dished out 12 assists and grabbed 4 rebounds.