Mitchell Ignites the Fire: Fever Sizzle Past Aces Without Clark in 80-70 Upset

Even without their headline act, the Indiana Fever found a new way to steal the show. In a gritty, gutsy effort, the Fever turned up the Heat inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, defeating the Las Vegas Aces 80-70 on Thursday night despite the continued absence of sophomore phenom Caitlin Clark.

Kelsey Mitchell played the lead in this production, pouring in 21 points and taking command of the backcourt with a confidence that scorched the hardwood. Mitchell’s offensive fireworks were matched by a pair of frontcourt double-doubles: Natasha Howard posted 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Aliyah Boston chipped in 13 and 10 of her own, holding down the paint against a formidable Aces squad.

Las Vegas came into the contest riding a three-game win streak, largely fueled by WNBA MVP frontrunner A’ja Wilson. The Fever’s defensive scheme kept her in check, holding her to 20 points and stalling the Aces’ attack during critical stretches. Jackie Young added 19 for Las Vegas, but Indiana’s collective hustle proved too strong.

After trailing at halftime, the Fever erupted with a 27-point third quarter, capped off by Howard’s dominance on the block. Indiana’s defense locked in during crunch time, holding the Aces to just two points over a four-minute span late in the fourth and closing the door with clutch free throws from Sophie Cunningham and a timely triple by Aari McDonald.

The win vaults Indiana above the .500 mark at 13-12 and keeps them squarely in the playoff hunt in a stacked Eastern Conference. With Clark still sidelined and no return date announced, the Fever are proving they can still turn up the thermostat—no matter who’s running the show.

Next up: a Windy City showdown as the Fever travel to Chicago for a Sunday matinee with the Sky.