The Indiana Fever faced off against the Minnesota Lynx at the Target Center on Saturday night, losing 90-80 and ending their two-game winning streak. With this victory, the Lynx secured a playoff spot, while the Fever’s record fell to 13-16, keeping them in seventh place in the WNBA standings, ahead of the Sky, who sit at 11-17.
Napheesa Collier, a strong MVP candidate, significantly contributed to the Lynx’s win. In their previous encounter at the Target Center, the Fever had stunned the Lynx with a commanding win, boosted by Collier’s absence due to injury. This time, however, she was back in form, dominating the Fever’s defense and scoring 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting in 35 minutes of play. The Fever struggled to contain her, unable to halt her aggressive performance.
Fever forward Temi Fagbenle made her return to action after battling injuries that sidelined her for much of the season. Although she played with a wrapped thumb, she made an immediate defensive impact, helping the Fever reduce a 12-point deficit and closing the gap to just one point by halftime. Fagbenle’s presence allowed her to contribute with five rebounds and two points in 16 minutes, while NaLyssa Smith, the starter, saw her playing time reduced to only 10 minutes.
Lexie Hull also received increased playing time, taking on a key defensive role against the Lynx. After her impressive offensive performance last week, where she scored a career-high 22 points, Hull logged 25 minutes against Minnesota, mainly guarding Collier and Kayla McBride. This increased contribution from Hull was notable, as she took some minutes away from starting guard Katie Lou Samuelson, who played 14 minutes.
In another highlight, Caitlin Clark made history by becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to record over 500 points and 200 assists in her rookie season. She finished the game with 23 points, eight assists, five rebounds, but also had seven turnovers.