Kelsey Mitchell's Stellar Performance Drives Indiana Fever to Victory Over Dallas Wings
Kelsey Mitchell shines with a career-high performance, leading the Indiana Fever to a crucial win without Caitlin Clark.
Game Summary
The Indiana Fever surged to a commanding 23-point lead in the first half against the Dallas Wings last Friday, but by the fourth quarter, they were barely hanging on to a two-point lead. After suffering losses from double-digit leads in recent matches, the Fever couldn’t afford to drop this one.
Kelsey Mitchell, a veteran guard, took charge. With the help of a screen from Aliyah Boston, she maneuvered through the lane, drew a foul, and scored but missed the free throw. Thankfully, Natasha Howard retrieved the rebound, allowing the Fever to reset. Shortly after, Mitchell dove into the paint again and assisted Howard to extend their lead back to six, a margin the Wings could not overcome.
Mitchell ended the night with 32 points and seven assists, marking new season highs and shooting an impressive 11 of 17 from the floor, with 4 of 6 from three-point range. The Fever secured a 94-86 victory, bringing their season record to 8-8 while playing without star Caitlin Clark, who is sidelined due to a groin strain.
In the match, Mitchell made history by becoming the fourth-fastest player in WNBA history to reach 4,000 career points, alongside 500 rebounds, assists, and three-pointers within 249 games. Notably, only Katie Smith (241 games), Arike Ogunbowale (198 games), and Diana Taurasi (198 games) accomplished this feat quicker.
“I just like to stay in the rhythm and stay in the flow of the game, but I definitely like playing confidently down the stretch of games,” Mitchell shared. “Our team makes it easy for me to get downhill and create as much as I can.”
Mitchell’s resurgence has been a boon for the Fever, which has faced adversity this season, including Clark’s absence for seven games and other injuries among key players. Sitting in sixth place, the Fever remains in contention for a top-four seed and can make an impact this season if Mitchell continues her outstanding performance upon Clark’s return.
Performance Overview
| Month | Games | Points | FG% | 3FG% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | 6 | 16.3 | 38.7 | 29.0 | 73.9 |
| June | 10 | 20.5 | 49.0 | 38.2 | 72.1 |
The Fever aims to capitalize on their growing momentum and the strengths of their effective backcourt as they navigate the remainder of the season.
