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    Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell take center stage, Aliyah Boston should be ready

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    INDIANAPOLIS — Everyone in the sold-out Gainbridge Fieldhouse … and those watching on TV … and listening on the radio … and those following on social media knew who the Indiana Fever wanted to get that crucial shot. Down Las Vegas, 75-72, with 30 seconds left in regulation and an inbounds shot from the sideline across from their bench, the Fever clearly wanted a shot at either Caitlin Clark or Kelsey Mitchell.

    But as they left the huddle, Aliyah Boston walked over to coach Christie Sides and asked if she should spread out to the corner.

    “Be prepared,” Sides replied, “because they’re going to take that shooter.”

    Watch: Caitlin Clark breaks Alyssa Thomas’ WNBA record for assists in a season

    More: Caitlin Clark gets sixth technical foul, now one game away from suspension

    The confidence she expressed in the 2023 No. 1 overall pick, both at the time and after the 78-74 loss, was and is crucial. While she’s not known for her 3-point shooting — Boston had a 30% conversion rate from 3 entering Friday (a career high of 32%) — Sides recognizes the work her sophomore has put into improving that area of ​​her game and wants her to have the confidence to take those shots.

    Number 7 may not be the first, second or even fourth option when the team needs a three-pointer, but she must be ready if and when those moments arise.

    A good example is the ball that landed in Boston on Friday and she was ready to shoot.

    A play designed for Clark and Mitchell, Sides said the Aces had a pin and hammer action against Clark on the weak side. So after passing it to Boston and regaining possession, Lexie Hull passed the ball to Mitchell on the far wing.

    Mitchell, as expected, was immediately smothered by Alysha Clark. With her eyes on a potential tying 3 denied, Mitchell dribbled around her defender and toward the basket, where A’Ja Wilson was waiting in the lane. Rather than force a shot or attempt to draw a foul, Mitchell passed to the corner, where Boston had cycled downfield and were wide open.

    “They’re going to take something away, so you just have to be ready for it,” Sides said. “And ‘AB’ was. It was a great shot. It went in and out. That was a great shot.”

    It was a great look, and the 6-5 forward took a good shot. But the ball bounced in and out, falling to an Aces player under the basket. The Fever need to get the ball to their stars in those situations, but they can live with the look Boston had in the final minute.

    “This girl has really worked hard on that part of her game,” Sides said. “I have a lot of confidence in her to take that shot.”

    “Teams are going to scheme against Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell. They’re going to do everything they can to get someone else to make that 3, so it’s on us,” she continued. “We’ve got to find a way to get the ball in their hands and make them make it, but I was so OK with that wide-open 3 from Aliyah Boston there.”

    Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

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