Balanced attack leads Fever to big win over Sun; Clark sets rookie 3-point record

Kelsey Mitchell led Fever scorers for the second straight game with 23 points in the 84-80 win.

Credit: AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith celebrates a three-point basket against the Connecticut Sun in the first half on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024.

INDIANAPOLIS — Five players scored in double figures as the Indiana Fever defeated the Connecticut Sun Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Kelsey Mitchell led Fever scorers for the second straight game with 23 points in the 84-80 win. Caitlin Clark, Lexie Hull, NaLyssa Smith and Aliyah Boston also scored at least 10 points each for Indiana.

Clark made three 3-pointers in the game, setting the WNBA record for most 3-pointers by a rookie in a season, besting the previous mark set by Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard in 2022.

DiJonai Carrington led the Sun with 19 points.

The Fever head to Chicago on Friday for a matchup with the Sky. After a game Sunday in Detroit, Indiana returns home for a six-game homestand, starting with a Sept. 4 game against the L.A. Sparks.

Clark knocked down her 86th three-pointer of the season in the first quarter against Connecticut, setting the new WNBA single-season rookie record. Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard held the previous record, which was set in 2022.

Biles is no stranger to making history, as her 11 Olympic medals are the most by any U.S. gymnast. She added four more medals to her overall total during the 2024 Paris Games, including three golds in the team, individual all-around and vault finals.

Clark has continued to rack up accolades throughout her rookie season, as she previously set the new WNBA single-season rookie assist record on Aug. 18. She also dished out 19 assists in a loss to the Dallas Wings on July 17, the highest single-game total in WNBA history.

She averaged 18.0 points, 8.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game entering Wednesday’s action. Despite struggling with her efficiency to begin her career, she’s shooting 44.4 percent from the field over her past 10 appearances.

Clark has helped the Fever contend for a playoff spot, as they currently own the No. 7 seed with a record of 14-16.

Box score

CONNECTICUT (80)

Bonner 4-13 4-4 13, Thomas 7-11 3-6 17, Jones 1-6 0-0 2, Carrington 7-13 4-5 19, Harris 3-6 1-2 9, Nelson-Ododa 1-2 0-0 2, Burton 1-3 0-0 2, Mabrey 6-12 0-0 16. Totals 30-66 12-17 80.

INDIANA (84)

Hull 5-9 3-4 17, Smith 4-7 1-2 10, Boston 5-13 0-0 10, Clark 7-17 2-2 19, K.Mitchell 8-14 3-3 23, Dantas 0-2 0-0 0, Fagbenle 0-2 0-0 0, Wheeler 2-2 0-0 5. Totals 31-66 9-11 84.

Connecticut    26    16    24    14    —    80

Indiana    33    18    18    15    —    84

3-Point Goals: Connecticut 8-24 (Mabrey 4-9, Harris 2-4, Bonner 1-5, Carrington 1-5, Burton 0-1), Indiana 13-30 (Hull 4-6, K.Mitchell 4-7, Clark 3-12, Smith 1-1, Wheeler 1-1, Dantas 0-1, Boston 0-2).

Fouled Out: None.

Rebounds: Connecticut 27 (Bonner 8), Indiana 35 (Hull 8).

Assists: Connecticut 19 (Thomas 6), Indiana 20 (Boston 8).

Total Fouls: Connecticut 13, Indiana 17.

Attendance: 17,274 (20,000)