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The Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky has become one of the most anticipated WNBA matchups in the league, and it did not disappoint on Sunday.
The matchup, featuring the most expensive WNBA seats on record, ended with an 88–87 Sky victory after a thrilling second-half comeback. This came just a week after the Fever defeated the Sky with an impressive 91–83 win.
The first half was incredibly tight, with seven ties and eight lead changes between the two teams. Both teams increased the gap in the second half, but only for so long: Chicago came out on top in the second half and took a 9–0 lead to start the half, but the Fever quickly caught up.
As the third quarter ended, Indiana began to trail, leading by as much as 15 late in the third quarter. But Chicago finally took the lead and cut that lead in half in the fourth.
Sky tied the game 82-82 with three minutes left in the fourth quarter. With a minute remaining, and the score tied 84–84, Angel Reese hit a go-ahead layup to give Chicago the lead for good. Although Indiana had several chances to take the lead in the final seconds due to Chicago missing several free throws, the Sky held on to win.
Caitlin Clark and Reese, the top freshmen from Indiana and Chicago, respectively, each achieved double-doubles in individual statistics. Clark finished with 17 points and 13 assists, while Reese had 25 points – a career high – and 16 rebounds. The game marked Reese’s eighth consecutive double-double, increasing her record as the only rookie to accomplish this feat, and making her the third person in the league to reach this milestone.
Clark’s seven assists went to Aliyah Boston, who finished with 18 points. Guard Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 24 points, going 5-for-10 on 3-pointers.
Reese led the Sky in points, followed by Chennady Carter, who had a big game with 23 points and five assists. Other Sky rookie Camila Cardoso earned her own double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Sunday’s loss to the Sky snapped a four-game winning streak for the Fever, who will play against the Seattle Storm on Thursday. However, Chicago’s confidence will be boosted as it faces the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, who are on the rise after a slow start to the season.
Indiana and Chicago will face each other for the fourth and final time this season on August 30 in another home game on Sky. Indiana leads the season series 2–1.
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After the win over the Fever, Angel Reese immediately found Sheryl Swoopes in the stands.
Caitlin Clark had 17 points and a team record 13 assists in the Fever’s loss. He also hit 5 of 9 shots from behind the arc.
Caitlin Clark: Fever single-game record for assists
Angel Reese: 8th consecutive double-double and highest points in career
Angel Reese left on Sunday afternoon. He had 25 points, 16 rebounds and shot 8 of 12 from the field. It was his eighth consecutive double-double.
Chicago Sky 88, Indiana Fever 87
Fever is 0.2 on the clock, but the Hail Mary fails and time runs out. Chicago made an explosive comeback and won by one point.
Cardoso missed the second. The Fever call a timeout, but there is confusion on the court.
Cardoso goes to the line for the final moments of the game. The first one I remember…
Marina Mabrey missed both free throws, and there was chaos on the floor as both teams battled for the ball. The Fever take over and Boston misses a jumper, and the Sky pull off an incredible comeback win…seemingly.
The referees are checking the time.
Boston gets a huge three-pointer to bring Indiana to within one point. There’s still 20 seconds left, plenty of time for more chaos.
Camila Cardoso snatched the ball from Aliyah Boston under the hoop and drew a foul. Wintrust Arena is on its feet as the Sky hold on to a small lead – Chicago 87, Indiana 84
Another big jump from Reese to take the lead. The Sky rookie now has 25 points, a career high.
It’s so loud at Wintrust Arena that Chicago Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon has to call a timeout right in the referee’s ear.
There is a minute left in the game, and both teams are going shot-for-shot, then miss-for-miss. 84-84…for now.
Reese drew another foul but ended up getting into it with NaLyssa Smith before taking the free throw. The three-point game is tied at 82-82.
Another big layup from Reese gives him 20 points and a career high.
Carter also gets another layup to reach 20, and Chicago is now within four points of Indiana.
Clark is 5 of 8 from beyond the arc today, including this nasty three to start the fourth quarter… and another just minutes later.
The game was stopped after Indiana’s Katie Lu Samuelson received a technical for tossing the ball behind her. Sky trying their best to take the lead: Fever 77, Sky 68.
Reese’s big shot under pressure – as well as the extra free throw – gives the Sky a bit of momentum as the quarter clock runs out.
Indiana 72, Chicago 64 at the end of the third.
Another big three from Mitchell, and one to give him a four-point game. Indiana is up 72-57, and Chicago is slowly but surely trailing.
Indiana now had its largest lead of the game, after Clark stole a three-pointer from Kelsey Mitchell and set up another Clark-assisted layup from Boston. The fever has now gone up to eleven, and they are still in control of the ball.
Clark and Reese both now have double-doubles in different statistics. Clark had 11 points and 10 assists, while Reese had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Reese is now the third player in league history with eight consecutive double-doubles.
