Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark was again the main performer and protagonist for her side as they triumphed against the Chicago Sky in a tight affair. The Sky led in the first quarter, but they lost momentum, and Clark took care of business on the court. Sky now has suffered five losses on the spin. Clark scored an eye-catching 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 12 assists. Clark proved impactful on the court as the Indiana Fever (16-16) defeated the Chicago Sky (11-20) 100-81 away from home at Wintrust Arena.
The Sky came into this game with an inconsistent set of results, their last four matches ending at the wire and culminating in a loss. The Sky went into this game with a loss after losing in the final minutes against the Washington Mystics at home at Wintrust Arena 74-70. While the Fever went into this game with two games undefeated and gaining momentum as they look to lock down a spot in the playoffs, their last win came against the Connecticut Sun at home at Bainbridge Fieldhouse in a close encounter, 84-80.
The last time these teams faced each other was earlier in the season on Sunday, June 23rd, when the Sky won a tight affair at home, 88-87 where Sky Forward Angel Reese and Fever Guard Kelsey Mitchell were the main performers for their teams with 16 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assists and 14 points with 2 assists respectively.
The Sky hoped for a similar result this time around, but the Mystics once again offensively were the better side and won the game as the Sky now have five losses on the spin.
Guard Rachel Banham spoke post-game about what's missing from this Sky team who now have five losses consecutively and lost by 100, also how it's difficult not having Kennedy, too.
"Like, that's obvious, the missing piece, our leading scorer, right? But I think in the locker room, we discussed, like, it's defense. I mean, offensively, we've got to take care of the ball, and there's stuff we need to clean up. We need to execute better. But we're going to win games against teams like this playing defense and finishing possessions. And I thought we just lacked effort at times. We play through the whole shot clock, and then we'd either foul or we would give them an offensive board score. And that's kind of unacceptable."
The First Half Started Tight, Fever Gained Momentum and Led by Five
The first half started tight, but at the end of the second quarter before the buzzer for halftime the Fever gained momentum and at the halftime mark led by five, 47-42. Fever Guard Kelsey Mitchell opened the game immediately with a 2-pointer, and the Sky responded right away with another 2-pointer from Guard Lindsay Allen. Then right away Fever scored and quickly Sky reacted with another 2-pointer. After that reaction, the Sky took control of the first quarter, at one point leading 21-9. However, the Fever started to gain momentum and the first quarter ended 26-23, with the Fever down by three. Allen led the Sky with 12 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. While Mitchell kept the Fever in the game with 8 points.
In the second quarter, it was the Fever who took advantage of the momentum change and the different reaction that Sky entered the second quarter with which allowed them to end the halftime in the lead. At the half, it was the highly talked about Guard Caitlin Clark, who dominated the second quarter with 10 points, 1 rebound, and 5 assists. For the Sky, it was Forward Michaela Onyenwere who kept the team in the game as she put in 5 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist.
Guard Rachel Banham spoke post-game on why the Sky lost that spark and energy from the first quarter.
"I mean, I don't know. I just feel like we came out exactly how we wanted to, and then we just Like, we had to make that adjustment out of the locker room. You know, you can't come off the second half like that against a team like Indiana who can score in such bunches. And, I mean, I'm happy with how we started, but we have to make it consistent throughout the 40-minute game. I mean, the film will show you, you know, what is going to be there. But, like, how this has been a theme lately."
Fever Continued to Lead in the Third Quarter and Took the Win
Not much changed for the Fever in the second half as they finished the third quarter now 14 points clear of the Sky and in the end took the win. The Fever continued their momentum and only looked to score and cement this win for themselves as the quarter ended 78-64. Forward NaLyssa Smith led the third quarter for the Fever as she put in 11 points and 3 rebounds. While for the Sky it was Guard Diamond DeShields looking to keep her side in distance of the scoreline as she put in 6 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist.
The fourth quarter then was nothing more than a moment to cement the win for the Fever. The Fever just continued to score, score, and score as they put in 22 more points onto the Sky and won the game 100-81. Clark was the main contributor and again the leader of a dominant Fever as she finished with 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 12 assists. Allen contributed a good performance, but the Sky were unable to win the game as she ended with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon also spoke post-game on what's missing from this team who have five losses on the spin.
"We have a lot of things that we need to correct, and it starts on the defensive side of the ball.
We are a defensive team, offensive runs, and if we're not getting stops, we're not being disruptive, we're allowing teams to get shots where they want it, how they want it, when they want it, ball moves, swings from one side to the other, whether it gets to the second side or even the third side, it's very difficult to defend that. It's very difficult. So we have to be better on the defensive side of the ball, all five players, all five players. You've got to be disciplined when you're guarding the ball. You can't allow anybody to get behind you. You keep the ball in front of you. When you're closing out, which is probably the most difficult thing in the game of basketball, you've got to be able to close out and be able to defend those people who put the ball on the floor, so that's defending off the bounce, and then those who can shoot it, you want to be able to make sure you're out there to contest and contain, and then be able to do both."
Star of the Game
Guard Caitlin Clark was no doubt the "Star of the Game" as she racked up an impressive 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 12 assists. The Iowa product and first overall pick of the 2024 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever was the best player on the court, with her contributions being substantial for the Fever to end up with the win over the Sky. Clark provided the statistics that will be sure to give joy to fans at Indiana.
What's Next?
The Sky will want to bounce back and shake off these now five losses on the spin and try to stay in reach of a playoff spot when they play away from home at Target Center against the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, September 1st, at 3:00 p.m. central.
The Indiana Fever will look to continue their good run of form, now at three consecutive wins, and make it four as they play away from home at College Park Center against the Dallas Wings on Sunday, September 1st, at 3:00 p.m. central.
Photo by Francisco Avila
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