In a thrilling WNBA showdown on June 23 at Wintrust Arena, the Chicago Sky edged out the Indiana Fever 88-87, bringing the Fever’s four-game winning streak to an abrupt halt. The Sky’s victory came despite a historic performance by Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark, who set a new franchise record with 13 assists.
Chicago’s win was fueled by a dominant performance from rookie forward Angel Reese, who recorded a career-high 25 points and 16 rebounds, marking her eighth consecutive double-double.
“I’m a dog, you can’t teach that,” Reese said following the victory. “I am going to go out there and do whatever it takes to win every single night. My teammates rely on my energy. Whether we are up or down, that is what I do.”
Sky guard Chennedy Carter, who is currently in the running for the Sixth Woman of the Year Award, also shone for the Sky with 23 points and five assists, while rookie center Kamilla Cardoso secured a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Clark, who also tallied 17 points, six rebounds and tied her career-high with four steals, spearheaded the Fever’s offensive efforts. Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana’s scoring with a season-high 24 points, while forward Aliyah Boston contributed 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two blocks. Forward NaLyssa Smith added 12 points and seven rebounds, reaching a significant milestone by moving to 14th place on the Fever’s all-time scoring list.
The game was a back-and-forth battle, with the Sky opening the third quarter with a 7-0 run. However, the Fever responded with an impressive 24-3 run, securing their largest lead of the night at 72-57. Despite the Fever’s season-high 28 assists and season-low nine turnovers, the Sky ultimately prevailed.
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“I feel like we didn’t execute,” Clark said. “When they went on a run, we could never find a way to respond. I don’t think we executed any kind of set.”
The Sky’s victory improves their record to 6-9, while the Fever falls to 7-11. Although the loss is a setback, Clark’s record-breaking performance and the team’s overall strong showing offer promise for the remainder of the season.
Clark also praised Reese following the contest.
“She played a really great game,” Clark said. “Angel had quite a few of and-ones in the fourth quarter. I thought she played really well.”
The WNBA season continues to deliver exciting matchups and highlights the exceptional talent across the league. Fans can look forward to more thrilling games as the competition heats up.
The Fever now leads the series 2-1. The Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky match up for the final time this regular season at 7 p.m. on Aug. 30 at Wintrust Arena. Some even believe that the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky may meet in this year’s playoffs. However, only time will tell.
Contact multi-media & senior sports reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846 or via email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more Indiana Fever and WNBA news from the Indianapolis Recorder, visit our archives.
