DALLAS — The Indiana Fever avenged their July loss to the Dallas Wings, beating them on their dwelling courtroom, 100-93, for his or her seventeenth win of the season.
The Fever at the moment are 17-16 and stand at sixth within the WNBA standings — firmly within the playoff hunt.
Listed below are three observations:
Fever rating:Indiana Fever vs Dallas Wings dwell rating updates, Caitlin Clark stats, highlights
Indiana will get a successful report in August for first time since 2016
It has been a very long time coming for the Fever. Eight years, to be actual. The Fever’s win over the Wings provides them a 17-16 report — the primary time they’ve had a successful report in August or later since 2016.
Fever report:When was the final time the Indiana Fever have been over .500?
Technically, the final time the Fever had a successful report at any level was in 2019, after they began the season at 4-3. However that Fever crew additionally ended the season at 13-21 — one thing this yr’s crew has already far surpassed.
With this post-Olympic surge, the Fever are on a particular upward trajectory; they’ve gone 6-1 within the seven video games for the reason that league restart, together with two wins over groups which have already clinched the playoffs. Now, after eight years of lacking the playoffs, the Fever now have a sport benefit over the Phoenix Mercury for the No. 6 spot within the playoffs.
Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell mix for 63 factors
Kelsey Mitchell continues to increase a franchise report — she notched her seventh-straight 20+ level sport, maintaining a Fever report that she already broke three video games in the past. Mitchell has scored 20 or extra factors in every of the Fever’s video games for the reason that Olympic break.
Mitchell completed the sport with 36 factors (two off of her career-high of 38) on 12-of-22 capturing from the sphere. That, paired with rookie Caitlin Clark’s 28 factors, gave the Fever an unstoppable backcourt presence in opposition to the Wings.
And the duo has been performing like this collectively since early July — when issues actually began to click on for the Fever. In keeping with the WNBA’s Mark Schindler, Clark and Mitchell have been averaging 44.3 factors per sport (22.2 for Clark, 22.1 for Mitchell) within the 12 video games the Fever have performed for the reason that begin of July. It is the highest-scoring duo within the league throughout that stretch.
Mitchell’s scoring has been paramount for the Fever on this post-Olympic stretch. As a seven-year veteran, Mitchell is the fixed the Fever have wanted to achieve success.
Arike Ogunbowale paces Wings with 30+ factors
At one level within the first quarter, after Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale make her fourth 3-pointer, Mitchell did not have any phrases. As a substitute, she regarded over to teach Christie Sides, standing close to the Fever bench, and put up her arms in a defeated shrug.
There wasn’t actually any method they might guard the All-Star Recreation MVP. Actually, not many individuals can — she scored 34 factors in a single half the All-Star sport on her method to the MVP nod.
Ogunbowale stands simply 5-8, undersized for the WNBA, however she makes up with it for her quickness and playmaking skills. It confirmed within the first assembly between Dallas and Indiana — she scored 24 factors and added on seven rebounds and 7 assists, taking part in all however 20 seconds within the Wings’ 101-83 win.
This time round, she had 24 factors within the first half alone — over half of Dallas’ 46 factors within the opening 20 minutes.
Mitchell and guard Lexie Hull shared the obligation of guarding Ogunbowale, however the burden primarily fell on Mitchell as Hull was occupied with Wings ahead Satou Sabally.
Ogunbowale’s scoring slowed barely within the second half — simply sufficient that the Fever may preserve a lead on the finish of the sport. Ogunbowale completed with 34 factors on 12-of-25 capturing, together with 9-of-16 from 3-point vary.