The Indiana Fever narrowly lost to the Las Vegas Aces, 78-74, on Friday night, marking their second consecutive defeat to the Aces in what has been the tightest match of their current season series. With this loss, the Fever’s record now stands at 19-19, placing them sixth in the playoff standings.
This season, the Fever have not managed to secure a victory against the Aces, making them the only team Indiana has been unable to beat this year. Despite having only won five games two years ago, the Fever have significantly improved, holding their own against the two-time reigning WNBA champions. The final game was hard-fought, with the Fever falling just short after closing the gap to one point late in the fourth quarter.
In contrast, Indiana successfully avoided being swept by other top teams, including the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun earlier in the season.
Caitlin Clark made history during the match by breaking the WNBA single-season assists record. Although she had a quiet first half without any points and limited playing time, she excelled by providing six assists, including her record-breaking 317th assist on a play involving Kelsey Mitchell. This surpassed the previous record held by Alyssa Thomas, who had 316 assists in 2023. Clark is known for her exceptional playmaking ability, which has remained strong as she averages 17.8 points per game.
The game unfolded physically, characterized by numerous fouls. Clark faced challenges early on, collecting three personal fouls and earning her sixth technical foul of the season after expressing frustration. With one more technical foul, she would risk a one-game suspension.
Despite the physicality, Kelsey Mitchell kept the Fever competitive in the first half, scoring 19 points and keeping the team within eight at halftime. The Fever eventually found their rhythm in the third quarter, outscoring the Aces 22-17.
Overall, Clark ended the game with 18 points, all scored in the second half, while also contributing nine assists and eight rebounds, showcasing her all-around ability to influence the game.