Fever Set Franchise Records in 123-88 Rout of Sun
Video Credit: Indiana FeverThe Indiana Fever set franchise records for points in a game and points in a half and matched theWNBArecord for 100-point games in a season, routing the Connecticut Sun 123-88 on Wednesday behind 20-point nights from Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston.Boston said a fast start, something the team had struggled with recently, set the tone."One of our goals tonight was to come out and start well because we've struggled with that the last couple of games. I thought we did that really well," Boston said. "Once we built a comfortable lead, we played with really good pace, shared the ball well and our offense was really flowing."Indiana led 36-26 after a first quarter in which Mitchell and Clark each scored 11, then blew the game open with a 34-20 second quarter, capped by Clark hitting her fifth 3-pointer of the half, to take a 70-46 lead into the break, a new franchise record for points in a half and tied for fourth-most in any half in WNBA history. Boston scored nine points in the third to push the lead to 97-69 entering the fourth, and Tyasha Harris and Monique Billings closed it out with eight and six points, respectively, in the final quarter.Clark finished with 27 points and 11 assists for her 23rd career points-assists double-double, breaking a tie with Chelsea Gray for sole possession of fourth-most in WNBA history. It was her 10th career game with at least 25 points and 11 assists, more than double the total of any other player in league history. Late in the third quarter, Clark and Connecticut's Saniya Rivers exchanged words and were both assessed technical fouls, the seventh of the season for Clark, meaning one more will trigger a one-game suspension."She said she was guarding me, like she was locking me up, so I said, 'Scoreboard.' The ref didn't like that," Clark said. "I'm never going to back down. That intensity and fire are what make me who I am. At the same time, I know my team needs me, so it's about finding that balance."Fever coach Stephanie White said she isn't managing Clark's technicals with any particular strategy."Anybody who thinks I have a strategic plan about technical fouls is crazy," White said. "She's just got to pick and choose. She has awareness about where she stands, and we'll try to help her when we can."Mitchell scored 23 points and extended her streak of games with at least three made 3-pointers to 11 straight, a new WNBA record, breaking the previous mark of 10 that had been held by Clark since 2024. It also stretched her streak of 20-point games to 11, tied for fourth-longest in league history, and her streak of double-digit scoring games to 42, tying Alana Beard for 18th-longest all-time. Mitchell said Clark's leadership during her absence from injury this season has been instrumental to the team."Her ability to lead while dealing with an injury has been a really big deal for us. We've had people in and out of the lineup all year, so I give my hats off to Tutu for continuing to lead us and put us in positions to be effective," Mitchell said.Boston's second steal of the night, at 8:26 in the third quarter, moved her past Tiffany Mitchell for 10th on the franchise's all-time steals list with 170, and she is now top 10 in Fever history in every major statistical category except made 3-pointers. White said the trio's chemistry has developed through repetition rather than any single adjustment."You can't substitute game reps. We work on it in practice, but they have to experience those situations in games. Over time, they learn how to put each other in positions to be successful," White said. "That's the process, and they've trusted it."Indiana's 123 points broke the franchise record of 114, set in June against the Chicago Sky, and were tied for third-most in any non-overtime game in WNBA history, two points off Toronto's league record of 125. The 35-point margin of victory was the second-largest in franchise history, three off the team record, and the Fever's 29 assists were one shy of the franchise record. It was Indiana's 11th 100-point game of the season, matching the single-season WNBA record set by the Las Vegas Aces, who reached it over 40 games compared to Indiana's 27. White said the win carried extra weight heading into the break."This is one of the hardest games to play. You're right before the All-Star break, you're not on break yet, and you're facing a team that's been competitive and had played us well," White said. "I'm proud of our group for staying locked in and getting contributions from multiple players. It's a really good win heading into the break, and now we can enjoy it."Diamond Miller led Connecticut (7-20) with 15 points, and Rivers scored 13. Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 11, and three other players reached double figures for the Sun, who played without Aaliyah Edwards and Brittney Griner.Connecticut visits the Washington Mystics on Tuesday, the fourth stop of a six-game trip. Indiana opens a three-game trip at Seattle the same day.
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