The Indiana Fever went on their first road stretch of the season in week two of the WNBA regular season. They began at home but then traveled to the West Coast, hoping to capture their first win of the season. Through the ups and downs of traveling, the Fever came out with a win and with more to improve.
May 20: Connecticut Sun at Indiana
The Fever played their first nail-biting game of the season on Monday night against the Sun. They also experienced their first heart-dropper the same night when Caitlin Clark left the court with an injured left ankle with 5:37 left in the first half.
After fighting through the injured left ankle and foul trouble, Clark still showed up for the Fever to keep them in the game. It turned out that all she needed was a retaping of the ankle and to go through halftime warmups for her to get back in action. She finished with 17 points and five assists, which were all in the final 10 minutes.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 17 points and five assists. NaLyssa Smith scored 13 points, and Temi Fagbenle recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
One of the most thrilling moments of the game came from a go-ahead 3 from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse logo, catapulting Indiana into the lead with 7:15 left in the game. The crowd erupted in a wave of excitement, a testament to the intense energy of the match.
Alyssa Thomas, with her impressive contribution of 24 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists, fell just short of another triple-double against Indiana for the second time this season.
The wrath of Tyasha Harris took over for the Sun, contributing 13 of the final 18 points for the team. Harris hit two clutch free throws with 10.9 seconds left, and the game tied.
Indiana had the chance to tie the score, but Aliyah Boston missed a layup in the final seconds. Thomas then closed it out with free throws to lead to an 88-84 Sun victory.
May 23: Indiana Fever at Seattle Storm
The Fever began their West Coast road trip in Seattle to take on a strong Storm squad, but they again lost decisively.
It took Jewell Loyd to score 21 of her 32 points in the first half and Sami Whitcomb to score all 10 of her points in the fourth quarter for the Storm to hold off the Fever. Loyd was last year's leading scorer in the WNBA and showed that against her matchup with Clark.
Loyd and Whitcomb combined for 18 of Seattle's 27 points in the fourth quarter. Seattle was able to lead by as many as seven early into the quarter. But Clark shined, sinking three free throws with 1:50 left to bring the Fever within two points. Seattle had an answer, scoring on two consecutive possessions.
Another pair of free throws by Clark brought them within two points. The Fever had a chance to take the lead when the Storm committed a turnover with 11 seconds left. The rookie Clark stumbled on the inbound pass, and Seattle controlled a jump ball.
Nneka Ogwumike added 22 points but only hit one of two free throws for the Storm, which still gave Indiana hope after the failed inbound play. Head coach Christie Sides was out of timeouts, so Indiana’s only option was to get Boston’s desperation attempt at the buzzer, which was off. The Fever fell 85-83 to continue its winless start of the season.
On the bright side, Clark finished with a team-high 21 points in front of a sellout crowd of 18,343, the largest for a game in Seattle. Mitchell continued her impressive run this season, dropping 17 points. Smith was right behind, contributing 16 points.
May 25: Indiana Fever at Los Angeles Sparks
The Fever traveled to the City of Angels to play in front of a Sparks record crowd of 19,103, including a number of Hollywood Stars courtside.
The bright lights of Hollywood didn't bother the Fever; instead, they thrived. Mitchell led the team with 18 points, and Boston and Fagbenle scored 17 each. Clark had 11 points and 10 rebounds, marking her first WNBA double-double and her career-high rebounds.
“The first one feels really good,” said Clark, who also had eight assists.
Sitting courtside was Iowa native Ashton Kutcher, who was the first to high-five Clark after her deep 3 with 2:27 remaining in the game. As the crowd erupted, Clark was nothing but smiles.
On the other side of the game, rookie sensations Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson from the Sparks featured in the future of the WNBA, which is bright. Brink had 15 points and nine rebounds, while Jackson had a career-high 16 points off the bench. Sparks Dearica Hamby had 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Boston, Fagbenle and Mitchell took over in the fourth quarter after trailing by 11 points early into the game. Mitchell hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Fever back on track.
Brink sunk a 3-pointer, and Lexie Brown scored to draw the Sparks within two. But Clark answered with her second deep 3-pointer with about 40 seconds left, and the crowd roared again as Indiana stayed in front, 76-71. The Fever were only 7 of 25 from long range but managed to make the most down the stretch.
After finding no wins in the first five games of the season, the Fever found their first with their 78-73 win over the Sparks.
May 26: Indiana Fever at Las Vegas Aces
The West Coast trip finale ended against the reigning champions, the Aces, and two-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson. Arguably the best current player in the WNBA, Wilson gave the Fever many different cases Saturday night to believe that.
It was another sellout crowd for the Fever of 10,399 fans in a game that featured women's basketball icons. Clark, who was one of five No. 1 draft picks in this game, along with teammate Boston and Las Vegas' Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young. Also, the top four women's scorers in NCAA Division I history — Clark, Plum, Las Vegas' Dyaisha Fair, and Mitchell — played in this game.
Wilson had 29 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Aces. The rest for the Aces was Young, scoring 22 points, and Plum with 20. Clark’s college teammate Kate Martin scored a career high 12 points in her matchup between Clark.
For the Fever, it was Mitchell leading the pack with 16 points. Fagbenle had 13, and Boston and Lexie Hull each finished with 12. Clark had a slower night, scoring eight points on 2-for-8 shooting, but also contributed seven assists and five rebounds. She also added six turnovers.
The Aces looked like their usual selves as they flew by the Fever 99-80.
The early regular-season schedule did not go the Fever’s way. The game against the Aces was Indiana's seventh game in 12 days and third in four. It was also the Fever’s fifth road game and their fifth game overall against a team that has competed in either the past two WNBA Finals — a tough stretch.
“Thank the lord,” Boston said of this stretch. “It’s hard being on the road like this and playing the teams that we have. But at the end of it, in the middle of it even, we’re going to be prepared for what’s to come because we’ve had these tough games to start this season.”
Up next for the Fever (1-6) is a rematch against the Sparks but this time at the Fever’s home court at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
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