The Indiana Fever reached a .500 record for the first time since 2022, achieving a 100-81 victory over the Chicago Sky on Friday night. This win marked a significant moment in the rising rivalry between the two teams, as the Fever now lead the season series 3-1.
The game was characterized by its physical play, with the Sky committing two flagrant fouls against Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. Missing their top scorer Chennedy Carter due to health protocols, the Sky struggled to keep pace with the Fever, who celebrated their largest victory margin of the season at 19 points. Clark led the way with an impressive performance, scoring 31 points and providing 12 assists, while Sky rookie Angel Reese contributed a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
In the first quarter, the Fever found themselves down 21-9 but quickly responded with a 14-5 run, closing the gap. Once they took the lead in the second quarter, they maintained control of the game. Indiana excelled from the three-point line, shooting 13-of-29 overall, with Clark hitting five of her nine attempts.
This victory is particularly meaningful for the Fever, who have struggled in recent years. Prior to this win, the team had not held a .500 record since the beginning of the 2022 season, when they started 2-2 before suffering a series of losses that resulted in a disappointing 5-31 finish. With Friday’s win, the Fever ended a 103-game stretch under .500 and now have the opportunity to achieve a winning record for the first time since 2019 when they face the Dallas Wings on Sunday.
Additionally, the victory against the Sky has playoff implications, as it gives the Fever the tiebreaker advantage in the event of a tie for playoff positioning. With victories over both the Sky and the Atlanta Dream, who are also in contention for the final playoff spot, the Fever have positioned themselves favorably. They are currently tied with the Phoenix Mercury, and both teams share a 16-16 record, but Indiana holds the sixth spot in the playoffs if the season were to end today.
Caitlin Clark’s standout performance featured 31 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including five three-pointers, along with 12 assists and four rebounds.