CHICAGO — The Phoenix Mercury found themselves overtaken in the playoff race by Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, who secured a decisive 100-81 victory against the Chicago Sky on Friday night. Clark scored a season-high 31 points, surpassing her previous record, helping the Fever rise to sixth place in the playoff standings. Both teams now hold a 16-16 record, but Indiana has the advantage thanks to their 3-0 sweep against Phoenix in their head-to-head matches this season.
“It’s impressive how we’ve turned things around since our 1-8 start,” Clark said about the Fever’s current position with eight games remaining. “But we need to keep executing as we continue down the stretch.”
With several games left in the season, the Fever remain optimistic due to their relatively favorable schedule. Out of their final eight games, only three are against teams with winning records, and only two will be on the road. This marks a significant change for the franchise, as they have not participated in the playoffs since 2016, when Clark was still a freshman.
Friday’s match was particularly special, showcasing a budding rivalry between Clark’s Fever and Angel Reese’s Sky, which has attracted significant attention this season. Notable figures such as WNBA legend Sue Bird and Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal were in attendance, alongside players from the Chicago Bulls and Bears. The game boasted an average ticket price of $334, making it the priciest in WNBA history as reported by TickPick.
Given the expected fanfare for the event, the Sky hosted the league’s inaugural Barbie-themed night. However, Clark and the Fever overshadowed the festivities with their impactful win, marking Indiana’s third consecutive victory and fifth in their last six games. This result solidified the Fever’s dominance in their season series against Chicago, claiming three wins out of four encounters.
“Our focus was on winning the season series,” Clark stated. “In our last game here, we led by 15 points in the fourth quarter but let it slip away. This was a chance to prove ourselves, and I think we executed well today. I had a lot of fun playing and thought we played joyfully.”
In terms of performance, Clark showcased her skills with 31 points, marking her third 30-point game in her rookie season. She shot 8 of 14 from the field, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc, and recorded 12 assists for her 11th double-double of the season. Notably, she managed to keep her turnovers to just three, coming close to her season low.
“She did an excellent job taking care of the ball,” Fever coach Christie Sides remarked. “That shows her growth; it’s something we were struggling with earlier, and now she’s recognizing how to manage it.”
The Fever’s next match is scheduled for Sunday against the Dallas Wings.