Check out the arrival outfits of the Indiana Fever players
Watch the Indiana Fever players arrive at Gainbridge Fieldhouse before their game against the Las Vegas Aces on Friday, September 13, 2024.
INDIANAPOLIS – In a scoring spree, the Indiana Fever defeated the Dallas Wings 110-109 in their final home game of the regular season.
Indiana is now 20-19, securing its most wins in a season since 2015.
Here are three observations:
Fever recovers from first quarter slump
Dallas’ big players dominated Indiana early in the game. Dallas grabbed eight straight rebounds (including four offensive rebounds) to start the game and took an early 21-10 lead. On paper, this was unusual; the playoff contenders Fever were down by double digits, the Wings won by only single digits and were eliminated from the playoffs.
But when it comes to the Fever and the Wings, it’s always about high-scoring games. Their first meeting ended 101-93 in favor of the Wings and the second 100-93 in favor of the Fever. Sunday was no different.
Indiana was able to tie the game in the second quarter and went into halftime with a two-point deficit (59-57). That was the most points the Fever had given up in a half all season, but also the second-most points they had scored in a half.
The Fever ultimately lost the battle for rebounds, but they still managed to control the game in the fourth quarter thanks to a career-best day from rookie Caitlin Clark, who ended up scoring 110 points, the most they’ve scored in a game this season.
On her best day, Caitlin Clark sets the rookie points record
Another record has been shattered at the hands of Fever newcomer Caitlin Clark.
Just one game after setting the WNBA single-season record with 316 assists (and counting), Clark set the rookie point record with her 20th point of the season. It was an 18-year-old record set by former No. 1 pick Seimone Augustus in 2006.
And Clark did it the same way she set the College Division I scoring record: with a 3-pointer.
In her first year as a pro, Clark has proven herself to be both a top-notch passer and a top-notch scorer – something not many players can do. She can find her teammates with long-distance or behind-the-back passes and still find unique ways to score herself, forcing her opponents to choose her poison.
Fever secures 6th place
With one game left in the regular season, the Fever have officially secured their 6th playoff spot. The win against Dallas was their 20th of the season.
The Phoenix Mercury, the team chasing them in the playoffs, are currently 17-20. Phoenix can reach a maximum of 20 wins with three games remaining, and Indiana has the head-to-head playoff tiebreaker.
Indiana will likely play the Minnesota Lynx or Connecticut Sun in the first round of the playoffs. Connecticut is currently seeded No. 3, but the two teams are just one game apart at the top of the standings and will play each other on Tuesday.
How many points did Caitlin Clark score against the Wings?
Clark scored a career-high 35 points on 10-of-22 shooting, including 6-of-14 three-pointers. She added eight assists and three rebounds.
