The Indiana Fever's recent five-game winning streak concluded Sunday with a 108-100 loss to the Minnesota Lynx, who maintain the WNBA's best record at 25-6. The Fever, now 19-11, were hampered by a condensed travel schedule that saw them play their third road game in six days, including a late-night contest in Portland just 36 hours prior to the Minnesota matchup.
Despite the taxing schedule, the Fever showed resilience, mounting a 14-2 comeback in the fourth quarter to pull within two points. However, Minnesota's Olivia Miles and Courtney Williams made crucial plays in the final minutes to secure the victory. Miles finished with 28 points, and Williams added 27.
For the Fever, Kelsey Mitchell led the scoring with 37 points, while Caitlin Clark contributed 19 points and 10 assists, marking her eighth double-double of the season. Aliyah Boston also had a significant impact with 15 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. The trio accounted for 71 of Indiana's points and 20 of its assists. The team shot 57% from the field and extended its WNBA record streak of scoring at least 100 points to six consecutive games.
Concerns about the WNBA's scheduling had been voiced by players, including Clark, following the All-Star Game. Clark noted the challenging turnaround, with games in Seattle, Portland, and Minnesota within a nine-day span after the All-Star festivities in Chicago. Other stars, like Breanna Stewart, also questioned the lack of recovery time between games, emphasizing its impact on competitiveness.
The demanding schedule for the Fever included an All-Star Game appearance, followed by cross-country travel for games in Seattle, Portland, and then Minneapolis. Reports indicated Clark had been feeling unwell prior to Sunday's game, though the cause was not definitively linked to exhaustion or travel.
The loss marked the end of a challenging stretch for the Fever. They are now set to return home, with their next game scheduled for Thursday against the Las Vegas Aces, providing a three-day rest period.