Despite the popular saying, the House does not always win.
The Indiana Fever orchestrated one of the most dominant performances in franchise history on July 12, dismantling the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces 109-75. The win moves their regular-season record to 14-9.
The Fever utilized a hyper-efficient perimeter attack and relentless transition game to complete a historic road victory. The 34-point blowout marks the second-largest margin of victory in the history of the Indiana franchise, finishing just three points shy of the record set against the Minnesota Lynx on June 6, 2010.
“Our team was tough-minded,” Fever Head Coach Stephanie White said. “We withstood that run in the third quarter … again: we are building consistency to these types of efforts. We found the best shot on the ffloor. I am really proud of this group.”
Indiana established a franchise record for the most points ever scored against the Las Vegas Aces in a regular-season game, comfortably eclipsing the previous benchmark of 97 points set during an overtime loss on June 29, 2019. The offensive showcase also marked the Fever’s seventh game scoring 100 or more points this season, extending their single-season franchise record.
The Fever now sit four matches away from matching the all-time WNBA record of 11 triple-digit scoring games in a single season, a milestone established by the Aces during their 2023 championship campaign.
Shooting guard Kelsey Mitchell anchored the starting unit’s physical pacing, logging a team-high 27 points while converting 8-of-16 field goal attempts and a flawless 8-of-8 performance from the free-throw line. Mitchell weaponized her continuous off-ball movement, drawing the defense away from the interior and posting a plus-minus rating of +19 in thirty minutes on the hardwood.
Center Aliyah Boston dominated the interior, manufacturing a high-volume double-double with 19 points and eleven rebounds. Boston converted 9-14 shots from the field while adding three assists and a block to anchor the interior defense.
After the contest, Boston gave Mitchell her flowers.
“Kelsey is awesome,” Boston said. “She shows up every day and gives us everything that she has. She continues to show up every day and hoop out of her mind. She is the fastest guard I have ever seen in my life.”
Point guard Caitlin Clark set the tempo, scoring 12 points and dishing six assists while grabbing seven rebounds. Clark finished 5-11 from the field.
The perimeter attack found an immense spark from guard Sophie Cunningham as early as the first quarter, who tied her personal single-game record by draining six total three-pointers. Cunningham finished with 20 points off the bench, shooting an incredibly efficient 7-9 from the field and 6-7 from beyond the arc.
“That is what it is to be a pro: to stay ready,” Cunningham said. “When you have mega stars on your team, you know that they are going to get majority of the shots, as they should, so us other (players), we have to be prepared to knock it down when we get the ball.”
The Fever’s collective perimeter execution proved to be the ‘great equalizer’ in the contest. Indiana drilled 15 three-pointers, tying for the third-most made triples in a single game in franchise history.
Statistically, the Fever completely outclassed the champion Aces in offensive efficiency. Indiana shot 55.9% from the field by connecting on 38 of their 68 total field goals. The visitors also hit 48.4% of their long-range attempts, draining 15 of 31 three-pointers while converting 18 of 19 free throws at a 94.7% clip.
Las Vegas was held to a stagnant 39.1% from the field on 27-of-69 shooting, and managed a poor 23.5% from three-point land, hitting only 4 of 17 attempts.
The Fever will get a chance to double down on the win on Aug. 6, when the Aces visit Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Contact multimedia & senior sports reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more, 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.
