The Indiana Fever (19-17) pulled off a 104-100 overtime win against the Atlanta Dream (12-23) on Sept. 8 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis. The win completed a season sweep over the Dream for the first time in franchise history. The Fever overcame a 16-point deficit in the third quarter.
This game marked Indiana’s first overtime contest of the 2024 season, and it was nothing short of dramatic as both teams left everything on the hardwood in front of a sold-out crowd.
Fever Center Aliyah Boston was the standout of the night, putting up a career-high 30 points to go along with 13 rebounds. Boston shot an exceptional 11-of-16 from the field and was perfect from the free-throw line, hitting 8-of-8. This performance earned Boston her 13th double-double of the season.
“Aliyah was phenomenal tonight,” Fever head coach Christie Sides said. “She really put the team on her back when we needed her the most. Her leadership and execution on both ends of the floor were crucial in this victory.”
Despite trailing by as much as 16 points, the Fever clawed their way back with gritty defense and clutch shooting. The game was tied 90-90 at the end of regulation after a critical layup by Boston with just 27 seconds left on the clock. In overtime, Indiana dominated, shooting 5-of-7 from the field to secure their hard-fought win in the third game of their six-game homestand.
Rookie guard Caitlin Clark also had (another) record-breaking night. Clark notched her 14th double-double of the season, a franchise record, with 26 points and 12 assists. Clark continues to make history, becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 300 assists in just 35 games.
“It feels great to get the win, but it’s even more special to do it in this fashion,” Clark said. “Breaking records is nice, but what really matters is how we’re growing as a team and building momentum heading into the playoffs.”
Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana’s scoring leader over the last month, contributed 21 points and four rebounds, continuing her hot streak of scoring at least 20 points in 11 of her last 13 games. Lexie Hull added a key 12 points, hitting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, while Temi Fagbenle chipped in nine points and played a solid defensive role off the bench with two blocks.
On the other side, Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard was sensational in defeat, posting a season-high 36 points. She added five assists and four rebounds in what was an impressive offensive performance. Howard’s scoring explosion kept the Dream competitive throughout, but in the end, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Fever’s balanced attack.
Dream center Tina Charles and guard Jordin Canada both added 17 points, with Charles grabbing 12 rebounds and Canada dishing out five assists. Allisha Gray also contributed 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, but the Dream struggled with consistency, particularly during key stretches late in the game and overtime.
The game started with Atlanta seizing momentum early, going on a 14-6 run in the first quarter. But Indiana answered back with timely shots, including back-to-back three-pointers from Mitchell, to keep it close. The Fever entered the second quarter up by just one, 22-21, but Atlanta responded with an 11-3 run to go up 39-38 before halftime. A buzzer-beating jumper from Canada extended the Dream’s lead to 48-44 heading into the second half.
Indiana’s resilience was on full display in the third quarter. A steal and layup by Mitchell sparked an 18-5 run, cutting Atlanta’s lead to just three, 69-66, as they entered the final quarter. The Fever’s relentless pressure ultimately paid off, setting the stage for the dramatic conclusion in overtime.
“We knew we had to keep fighting, and that’s exactly what we did,” Boston said. “This team has been resilient all season, and tonight was just another example of that. We’re not going to give up, no matter what the situation is.”
Currently, the Fever hold the No. 6 seed for the playoffs and are likely to match up against the Connecticut Sun or Minnesota Lynx in the first round of the postseason.
Only three home games remain in the regular season, with a back-to-back stint against the Las Vegas Aces beginning Sept. 11. The Dallas Wings will be the final home game of the 2024 regular season, tipping off on Sept. 15.
Contact multi-media & senior sports reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more Indiana Fever news courtesy of Noral, check out the archives.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
