The Indiana Fever didn’t just win their May 2 exhibition matchup against the Nigeria National Team — they put on an absolute offensive clinic.
Playing in front of more than ten thousand fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis, the Fever cruised to a commanding 105-57 victory.
From the opening tip, Indiana dictated the pace, utilizing their transition game and lethal perimeter shooting to overwhelm the international squad.
Indiana’s established backcourt wasted no time getting to work. Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 17 points in over 14 minutes of action, shooting an efficient 6-for-9 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.
“I like our group, I like our pace,” Mitchell said after the win. “It is one of the fastest groups I have ever played with.”
Defensively, Mitchell noted that the team has to give themselves “more credit” and commit to finishing plays on that end.
Alongside her, Caitlin Clark delivered a hyper-efficient 12 points in 12 minutes of play. Clark connected on 3 of her 4 field goal attempts, including a pair of three-pointers, while going a flawless 4-for-4 from the free-throw line and dishing out four assists.
While the guards handled the scoring, Aliyah Boston anchored the interior and served as a primary facilitator. In a mere 10 minutes on the floor, Boston pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and distributed a team-high six assists.
“We’ve got to be creative, in ways we can get one another shots and create space,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said. “I think we have an opportunity with those three (Boston, Clark and Mitchell) on the floor to do a lot of different things.”
The story of the night, however, was the depth of the Fever roster. The game was effectively decided by halftime after Indiana exploded with 38 points in the second frame, bolstering a massive 70-29 lead into the locker room.
That cushion allowed the coaching staff to rotate the bench heavily, and the reserves held their own. Veteran Damiris Dantas poured in 16 points, draining four three-pointers in 22 minutes.
Inside, Makayla Timpson showcased a flawless performance. The forward shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the field to finish with 12 points and five rebounds in a team-high 24 minutes of action. Meanwhile, rookie Raven Johnson made her presence felt with an all-around effort, contributing nine points, seven rebounds and four assists while pushing the tempo.
Indiana capitalized heavily on Nigeria’s mistakes. The Fever defense forced 25 turnovers, which they turned into 32 points on the other end. Furthermore, the Fever pushed the pace, racking up 24 fast-break points compared to Nigeria’s 10.
Overall, the Fever shot 53.7% from the field and hit 14 three-pointers as a team.
Fever’s Monique Billings left the game early with an ankle injury. Coach White said she is “going to be fine.”
The Nigeria National Team struggled to find an offensive rhythm against Indiana’s pressure, shooting 30 percent from the field. Shay Ijiwoye was the lone bright spot for the visitors, finishing as the only player on her team in double figures with 10 points.
Ezinne Kalu, Vera Ojenuwa and Blessing Ejiofor each added eight points in the loss.
Contact multimedia and senior sports reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral.
For more news, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. 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.
