The Indiana Fever made a strong statement on Thursday night: they’re not just about Caitlin Clark. Even without their star rookie, who missed her fourth straight game due to a strained groin, the Fever dominated the Las Vegas Aces 81-54 in Indianapolis, snapping a long 16-game losing streak against the defending champs.
Kelsey Mitchell was the standout, pouring in 25 points and leading the team’s charge. Aliya Boston also had a great game, scoring 20 points and controlling the paint like she always does. The Fever’s defense was incredible once again — they held the Aces to just 26% shooting, which was the lowest shooting percentage Las Vegas has had all season. Plus, Indiana forced 17 turnovers, showing how tough they were on defense.
Natasha Howard, who was the MVP of the recent Commissioner’s Cup, continued her hot streak with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Fever shot nearly 50% from the field overall, moving the ball well and taking smart shots throughout the game.
The Aces, now 8-9 on the season, couldn’t get much help beyond their star A’ja Wilson. She scored 29 points on decent shooting and was nearly perfect from the free-throw line, making 11 out of 13 attempts. But the rest of the team was ice cold — they made only 7 of 43 shots, a terrible 16%, and no other player scored more than six points.
Indiana started strong and kept the pressure on from the beginning. They closed the first half with a huge 25-7 run and went into halftime leading 46-24. At one point in the second quarter, the Fever missed only two shots. Their passing was excellent, racking up 13 assists on 18 made baskets in the first half alone.
Las Vegas tried to fight back in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 13 points after some free throws and a basket by Wilson. But just when it looked like the Aces might come back, the Fever answered with big three-pointers from Lexie Hull and Kelsey Mitchell, pushing the lead back to 21 points by the end of the quarter.
This wasn’t just another win for Indiana — it felt like a real turning point. It showed that the Fever can win big games even without their star player on the court. For Kelsey Mitchell, who was the only player from Indiana’s last win over the Aces back in 2019, this was a special moment, almost like coming full circle.
For the rest of the league, this game sends a clear message: the Indiana Fever are a deep, dangerous team that’s growing more confident every game. They’re ready to compete, with or without Caitlin Clark.