Fever learns what it takes to win in defeat against former champions

By Madie Chandler | FeverBasketball.com

The Indiana Fever are bound for the WNBA Playoffs, but first they must conclude a historic season for the franchise as they steam through their post-Olympic schedule. After winning eight of their 10 games since the break, Indiana fell to Las Vegas 86-75 on Wednesday. In the first of two games against A’ja Wilson and the Aces this week, a rematch on Friday, the Fever are treating the miniseries as a pre-playoff test.

“You don’t get (anything) better than that from where you’re at,” Kelsey Mitchell said of the series against Las Vegas. “…As a leader, it’s my job to make sure we have confidence, because even when we lose, those things go away. Confidence will always make everything better.”

Mitchell is a seven-year veteran of the WNBA — all with the Indiana Fever. This year marks the first season the Fever have qualified for the WNBA Playoffs since Mitchell was drafted second overall in 2018. She led Indiana in scoring in Wednesday’s loss with a 24-point night.

Both teams had efficient offenses heading into Wednesday’s game — Las Vegas had the WNBA’s best points-per-game average at 86.4, but Indiana wasn’t far behind with its own 84.7 per game average. In holding the Aces to their scoring average, they showed a defensive fortitude that coach Christie Sides hopes will carry over into Friday’s game.

“I think the only thing I saw from that group at the end of the game was a dog mentality to get to the next stop,” Mitchell said. “We made a really good run at the end of the game and I think they did that in that timeout. … And I think great teams turn to a different person, a different animal, a different group, when you come out of (timeouts).”

The Fever were outscored in all but one quarter, despite taking an early 7-0 lead in the first half. They forced Las Vegas to call a timeout just 36 seconds into the game, with the Aces winning the first quarter 20-18 after the stoppage.

Indiana struggled from the field – making less than 40 percent of its field goal attempts – but were successful on just 26.9 percent of their 3-point attempts. Sharpshooter Caitlin Clark posted a 27 percent shooting night, making just one of her 10 3-point attempts.

“Overall, I didn’t feel like I played bad,” Clark said. “I felt like we really struggled as a group to make shots that we were making, really starting in the second half. And sometimes that’s basketball. I mean, they’re a great defensive team. You know they’re going to be physical with me. They’re tough, so that can wear you down a little bit during the game.”

Clark played all 45 minutes in Indiana’s overtime win over the Atlanta Dream on Sunday and added 37 minutes in Wednesday’s loss. She and her Fever teammates are looking forward to a quiet Thursday before returning to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday to apply everything they’ve learned about the Aces in Wednesday’s game.