The Indiana Fever achieved a .500 record with a 100-81 win over the Chicago Sky, marking their largest victory margin of the season and gaining a 3-1 lead in this emerging rivalry.
The game was marked by physical play, with the Sky committing two flagrant fouls against Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. The absence of leading scorer Chennedy Carter due to health and safety protocols hindered the Sky’s performance. Clark was the standout player, finishing with 31 points and 12 assists. Meanwhile, Sky rookie Angel Reese contributed a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Despite a rough start, trailing 21-9 at one point, the Fever responded with a 14-5 run to close the gap and eventually took control in the second quarter. With Carter sidelined, Indiana capitalized on perimeter shooting, hitting 13-of-29 from three-point range, including 5-of-9 from Clark.
This victory marks the Fever’s first .500 record since the start of the 2022 season, when they were briefly 2-2 before a long losing streak ended with a 5-31 record. This game ended a remarkable streak of 103 games played under .500. The Fever now have an opportunity to secure a winning record for the first time since 2019 with a game against Dallas on Sunday.
The win also has significant playoff implications. The Fever now hold the head-to-head advantage over both the Sky and the Atlanta Dream, who are competing for the final playoff spot. They are currently tied with the Phoenix Mercury, and if the playoffs started today, Indiana would be placed in the No. 6 seed.
Caitlin Clark notably scored 31 points on 8-of-14 shooting and added 12 assists and four rebounds in her impressive performance against the Sky.