From the start of the WNBA season, the Indiana Fever, a young and relatively inexperienced team, seemed out of sync. However, their recent performance suggests an enormous growth, as they've been playing together on the court for just over two months.
But it might have just taken them some time to figure it out and get the feel of sharing the court together. It also helps that Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, who are becoming a newfound core in this Fever squad, are making significant contributions.
While Indiana still has some work to do on defense, they are letting the game come to them naturally through playmaking and shooting abilities.
After a slow start to the season, the Fever are now on a two-game winning streak.
June 13: Atlanta Dream at Indiana
91-84 Fever
Boston was the star of the Fever's game against Atlanta. She matched a career-high of 27 points and added 13 rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell also contributed 24 points as the Fever went on a 10-2 run to close the win against the Dream.
While Clark only had seven points, the Fever still looked red hot. She also had two blocks, six assists and four rebounds. Even though her points on the stats sheet didn't stand out, she continues improving her all-around game, even on nights when she isn't shooting her best.
Indiana scored 59 points in the first half and had a lead of as many as 18 points. However, they struggled to start the second half, only having 14 points in the first 14 minutes of the half, which allowed Atlanta to creep back into the game. Their first points of the fourth quarter came from Mitchell's free throws with 5:16 left in the game.
The Fever forced two back-to-back shot clock violations from the Dream and converted those possessions into four points. Mitchell got a steal from under the Atlanta basket, which gave Indiana a five-point lead. A basket from Ryne Howard of the Dream got Atlanta within three points, but Boston shut that down quickly after a spin in the lane and made a layup to put the game to rest.
It was a rocky performance by the Fever. They started the game strong but came out weak in the second half, which led to a game that got away from them fast. But the resilience of Boston and Mitchell ultimately got the Fever back in the game.
June 16: Chicago Sky at Indiana
91-83 Fever
In a rematch between Clark and Angel Reese, the Fever put on a show in a nail-biting game.
This was the game where the duo of Boston and Clark shined the most. Clark was feeding Boston in the paint at any open opportunity, and Boston was turning those laser vision passes into easy buckets for Indiana.
Boston had 19 points and 14 rebounds, marking her third consecutive double-double, while Clark had 23 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Clark made 7 of 11 shots and three 3-pointers. Mitchell added 17 points, and NaLyssa Smith dropped 15. The balanced scoring from the starters was new to see from this team, and also a step in the much-needed right direction.
Just like the first game against the Sky two weeks ago when Clark took a hard shot by Chennedy Carter, she faced more physicality again. This time, it was Reese with her right elbow that hit Clark in the head, knocking her down. Reese was charged with a flagrant one-foul and was hit with criticism all over social media regarding physical play.
“The right call was made in that moment,” Fever coach Christie Sides said. “Just make the right call in those moments, and we can move forward. But when we don't make the right call in those moments, that's when there's a problem and they made the right call tonight.”
Except Reese disagreed with that and said it was a clear basketball play.
Whatever the play was, it just added to the rivalry between the players and the teams.
For the Sky, Marina Mabrey scored 22 points, Carter had 18, Reese had 11 points and 13 rebounds, and Kamilla Cardoso had a double-double with 10 and 10. But it wasn't enough to defeat Indiana.
Indiana went on a 12-6 run to close the first half but allowed the Sky to build a lead early in the second half. After falling behind, the Fever came back to retake the lead midway through the third, then never trailed again for the rest of the game.
Indiana closed the game with sequences coming from a Clark 3-pointer, Boston's mid-range jumper, Smith's layup and two free throws by Clark over the final 3:06 of the game.
As Gainbridge Fieldhouse erupted to send Chicago packing up north, the Fever looked the most in sync they have looked this season. Now, after two games that showed the perseverance of the Fever, they are on a two-game winning streak. But we still have some notes to work on, especially their defense.
Although they are showing their ability to start off strong in games and close out the first half, at each start of the second half, they are slow to the ball and allow easy baskets on the other end, which leads to scoring droughts and scoring runs for their opponents.
Next up are the Washington Mystics (2-12) on Wednesday in a rematch where Indiana won the last battle.
