Fever secure fifth straight win as Mitchell ties WNBA scoring record
Caitlin Clark adds 24 points and seven assists as Indiana Fever hold off Toronto Tempo 101-95 in a contest defined by shooting efficiency and late-game discipline.
Kelsey Mitchell has tied the WNBA record for consecutive games scoring 20 or more points, extending her streak to 20 matches to match Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson. The achievement came during the Indiana Fever’s 101-95 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Tuesday, though Mitchell’s historic performance was cut short by physical strain.
Mitchell finished with 29 points before sitting out the fourth quarter. Fever coach Stephanie White stated after the game that Mitchell appeared to overheat due to the playing environment rather than suffering a serious injury. The three-time All-Star had scored eight points in less than a minute late in the third quarter before heading to the locker room.
Caitlin Clark provided significant support for the Fever, recording 24 points and seven assists. Clark and Mitchell have each scored 20 or more points in the same game 16 times this season, setting a new WNBA record for teammates achieving the feat. This surpasses the previous mark of 15 times, held by Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter with the Phoenix Mercury in 2008.
The Fever (24-12) improved their record with their fifth consecutive victory, while the Tempo (10-24) suffered their 11th straight loss. Indiana’s shooting efficiency was a decisive factor, as they shot 52.9% from the field compared to Toronto’s 39.1%. The Fever opened strong, shooting 61.9% in the first quarter to take a 33-23 lead, and maintained a 57-49 advantage at halftime.
Aliyah Boston contributed 16 points for Indiana, with Sophie Cunningham adding 13 points off the bench. For the Tempo, Marina Mabrey led scoring with 22 points, while Brittney Sykes scored 15 points upon returning from a foot injury. Aneesah Morrow recorded 14 points and 16 rebounds for Toronto.
The game remained competitive until the final minutes. Indiana held a 12-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Tempo closed the gap to seven points with 2:55 remaining. A steal by Makayla Timpson set up a Cunningham three-pointer, restoring a 10-point lead for Indiana.
Mabrey hit two consecutive three-pointers to trim the deficit to 97-93 with 59 seconds left. However, a palming infraction by Mabrey with 21 seconds remaining, followed by a foul on Kiki Rice, secured the win for the Fever.
