Mitchell and Caitlin Clark Power Fever to Best Season Since 2016 with 14th Win

Kelsey Mitchell scored 29 points, including two key free throws with five seconds left, to help the Indiana Fever defeat the Atlanta Dream 84-79 on Monday night while, Caitlin Clark added 19 points for the Fever, disappointing a record crowd in Atlanta.

In the final seconds, Atlanta had a chance to tie the game but missed two 3-point shots. They grabbed two offensive rebounds but lost the ball, leading to Mitchell’s game-sealing free throws.

Aliyah Boston contributed with 14 points and 11 rebounds for Indiana, and Damiris Dantas added 11 points off the bench. The win gives the Fever a 14-16 record, their most victories in a season since 2016 when they finished 17-17. Clark made four 3-pointers, tying the rookie-season record of 85 set by Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard in 2022.

Clark also had seven assists and seven rebounds. This was her 21st game this season with at least 15 points and five assists. The most in a single season in WNBA history.

Clark said that the team’s chemistry has been improving and that she’s excited about her potential to keep getting better.

Atlanta, now 10-19, started the game just half a game out of the final playoff spot. They fell behind by 18 points early in the second half when Clark hit a 3-pointer, but they fought back, outscoring the Fever 41-32 in the second half. The Dream got within two points before Indiana’s five-point possession stopped their comeback.

Tina Charles led Atlanta with 21 points. The game moved to the Atlanta Hawks’ home arena and set an attendance record of 17,608. Which surpasses the previous record of 17,575 from their last game against Indiana. Howard scored 16 points, Allisha Gray added 12, and Jordin Canada scored 10 for the Dream. However, Gray didn’t score after receiving a flagrant foul from Boston in the third quarter.

With 4:13 left, Howard hit a 3-pointer to bring Atlanta within two points, 76-74. But Clark grabbed an offensive rebound and found Lexie Hull for a layup. Hull then got her own missed free throw, and passed to Mitchell, who made another layup and a free throw to put the Fever ahead 81-74.

Nia Coffey made a 3-pointer for Atlanta in the final minute to make the score 82-79, but Mitchell’s free throws secured the win.

Mitchell has scored 105 points in Indiana’s last four games, tying the record she set last year for the most points in a four-game stretch in Fever history also Caitlin Clark.