Kelsey Mitchell delivered a career-defining performance, leading the Indiana Fever to a spectacular come-from-behind 99-93 overtime victory against the Connecticut Sun. Mitchell's 38 points, with 34 of them coming after halftime, fueled the Fever's resilience as they erased a 21-point deficit.
The game began with the Sun dominating, establishing a 24-11 lead in the first quarter and extending it to 48-29 by halftime. The Fever struggled to find their rhythm, and the loss of starting guard Sophie Cunningham to a knee injury further compounded their challenges. However, the second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum, ignited by Mitchell's scoring surge.
Mitchell's offensive explosion included 11-of-22 shooting from the field, 5-of-8 from three-point range, and 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. She scored the Fever's first 10 points in overtime,displaying exceptional clutch play. Her back-to-back three-pointers in overtime gave the Fever their first lead since early in the game. Lexie Hull's corner three-pointer with 44.9 seconds remaining in overtime sealed the victory for Indiana.
Odyssey Sims contributed 19 points and seven assists, while Aliyah Boston recorded 14 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks. Natasha Howard added 18 points to the Fever's offense.
The Sun's Marina Mabrey led her team with 27 points, and Tina Charles added 21. Saniya Rivers provided 15 points and five blocked shots off the bench, and Aneesha Morris had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Sun couldn't hold off the Fever's comeback.
The Fever's victory was particularly significant, considering Caitlin Clark's absence due to a right groin injury. Clark, along with the injured Sophie Cunningham, showed their support for Mitchell on social media. Clark posted on X, "KELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and followed up with "MVP kels" and "Battled battled battled. So proud ❤️". Cunningham also expressed her excitement, writing, "KELSEY FREAKIN MITCHELL".
With a 19-16 record, the Fever are now focused on securing a spot in the postseason. Their remaining schedule in August includes games against the Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks and Atlanta Valkyries. In September, they will face the Phoenix Mercury and the Chicago Sky.