Late Sunday afternoon, the Indiana Fever delivered a dominant fourth-quarter performance to overpower the Seattle Storm, showcasing near-perfect basketball. The Fever scored 33 points in the final 10 minutes, shooting an impressive 12-of-15 from the field, including 8-of-10 from beyond the arc, while dishing out 10 assists and holding the Storm to just 17 points.
Caitlin Clark stole the spotlight, breaking Ticha Penicheiro’s rookie assist record, which had stood since the WNBA’s second season in 1998. However, the bigger takeaway from the Fever’s impressive win is that this team is emerging as a serious playoff contender. With a 5-0 record in their last five games against teams with winning records and an 11-6 run since a tough 2-9 start, the Fever are hitting their stride at the right time. Only the Liberty, Lynx, and Aces have better records over this stretch, and only the Liberty boast a more potent offense.
The Fever are now three games ahead of the ninth-place Atlanta Dream, poised to break the league’s longest active playoff drought, which dates back to 2016. With their offense firing on all cylinders under Clark’s leadership, they could be a formidable challenge in the playoffs. The WNBA’s unique 2-1 format in the first round could play to their advantage, especially if they force a decisive Game 3 at home, where facing Clark and a fired-up Indiana crowd would be a daunting task for any opponent.
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