Fever Cool Off Late as Sparks Ignite in Indy

It was a barnburner at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as the Indiana Fever battled the Los Angeles Sparks in a back-and-forth duel worthy of primetime. Despite trailing much of the first half, the Fever caught fire behind Aliyah Boston’s relentless paint presence and Kelsey Mitchell’s perimeter sniping — but the Sparks doused the flames just in time to escape with an 89-87 win.

Without Caitlin Clark for the fifth consecutive game, Indiana still showed the grit of a squad hungry to defend their home court. Boston racked up a robust 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Mitchell and Natasha Howard combined for 40 points, dazzling the home crowd with their sharpshooting.

But L.A.’s Azura Stevens delivered a double-double gut punch of her own, and Rickea Jackson’s late bucket sealed the win for the visiting Sparks. The Fever’s offense sputtered down the stretch, missing their final five shots as the Sparks’ defense locked in.

Even with the loss, the Fever proved they can run with any team in the league — their spirit unbroken and their sights still firmly set on the postseason. Next up? A home showdown against the Golden State Valkyries, where the Fever will aim to light the scoreboard and keep their playoff hopes blazing.