INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever secured a thrilling 84-80 victory against the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday night at a buzzing Gainbridge Fieldhouse, successfully avoiding a season sweep by their opponents. This win marked a significant turnaround for the Fever, who had previously suffered three losses to the Sun earlier in the season, including a game where head coach Christie Sides opted to pull her starters in the second half.
Among the notable attendees at the game were Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles and Gabby Thomas, entertainment legend David Letterman, and Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson. With this win, the Fever improved to a 15-16 record, placing them seventh in the league and enhancing their playoff chances.
Here are three key takeaways from the game:
Fever Starts Strong Against the Sun
Prior to this matchup, the Fever had scored 50 or more points at halftime in five games, all against teams they had dominated throughout the season. However, this was the first time Indiana achieved that feat against a team they had previously lost to three times. After falling behind 8-2 at the start, the Fever quickly regained control, shooting 50% (9-of-18) from beyond the arc in the first half and leading by nine at halftime against the league’s second-best team.
As the game progressed, the Fever found themselves clinging to a narrow two-point lead with one minute remaining. In a contest characterized by physicality and veterans battling for possession, the teams exchanged baskets down the stretch. However, a critical turnover by Sun center Alyssa Thomas with 24 seconds left helped the Fever secure their win after Lexie Hull converted two free throws in the final moments, solidifying their victory.
Lexie Hull Shines in Second Start
In her second start of the season, guard Lexie Hull capitalized on the opportunity after Katie Lou Samuelson was unable to play due to personal reasons. Hull’s scrappy gameplay helped the Fever throughout the night, as she fought for rebounds and created offensive opportunities. In a pivotal moment, she successfully executed a challenging three-pointer with seconds left on the shot clock, finishing the night with 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, going 4-of-5 from three-point range.
Kelsey Mitchell Continues to Impress
Kelsey Mitchell came through with a crucial three-pointer that gave the Fever a one-point lead late in the game, contributing to her fifth consecutive outing of scoring over 20 points. Since the Olympic break, Mitchell has been averaging an impressive 26.2 points per game, solidifying her position as one of the top scorers in the league. She concluded the game with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, playing a key role in the Fever’s strong performance following the break.
Caitlin Clark also had a notable contribution, scoring 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting, along with five rebounds and five assists.