Since the WNBA’s Paris Olympics break, the Indiana Fever have shown significant improvement, winning their second consecutive game with a decisive 92-75 victory over the Seattle Storm. This win reflects the Fever’s newfound form, particularly highlighted by exceptional performances from their guards.
Kelsey Mitchell led with 27 points, Caitlin Clark added 23, and Lexie Hull contributed 22 points, with notable accuracy from three-point range. Additionally, Aliyah Boston dominated the boards with 15 rebounds, helping the Fever improve their season record to 13-15, with a solid 8-5 performance at home.
Caitlin Clark made history during this game by surpassing Ticha Penicheiro’s record for the most assists by a rookie in WNBA history. Clark achieved her 225th career assist in the second quarter, although there is some discrepancy in the exact number of assists recorded by Penicheiro.
Regardless, Clark’s accomplishment was celebrated with a tribute video from Penicheiro, who expressed admiration for Clark’s passing skills and contribution to the game. Clark, who also had nine assists, five rebounds, and two blocks, is currently leading the WNBA in assists with an average of 8.3 per game.
The game began with both teams struggling offensively, as the first quarter ended with the Storm leading 17-13. The Fever managed to regain their footing in the second quarter, overcoming a small deficit to lead 35-34 at halftime.
The Storm initially performed well from beyond the arc, making 5-of-12 three-pointers by halftime, while the Fever had a rough start, going 0-for-6 in the first quarter but improving later. Despite a close contest, both teams were inefficient from the field in the first half.
In the second half, the Fever surged ahead with an 8-2 run, aided by key three-pointers from Mitchell and Clark. Although the Storm managed to equalize briefly during the third quarter, the Fever maintained a narrow lead of 59-58 entering the final period.
The Fever then dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the Storm 33-17 and securing a convincing win. This strong finish underscored Indiana’s improved performance since the break.
For the Storm, Jewell Loyd led with 26 points, while Nneka Ogwumike contributed 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and four steals. Ezi Magbegor added nine points, seven rebounds, and five blocks.
The loss dropped the Storm’s record to 17-10, leaving them in third place in the Western Conference and fifth in the league. The Fever will have a brief respite before their next game against the Minnesota Lynx, while the Storm will conclude their road trip against the Washington Mystics.
