Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell both drop 34 in Fever win over Sun: Likes and Dislikes
The Fever are 26-14 entering the FIBA layoff.
INDIANAPOLIS – The Fever hosted the Connecticut Sun on Friday night, their final game before a multi-week break for the World Cup. It was the first home game for the Fever since August 14, exactly two weeks ago.
Connecticut entered with a 10-28 record and were missing four key players, perhaps their four best. On paper, it looked like an easy win for the Fever. In practice, things are never that easy. This battle had all the makings of a trap game.
And yet, the Fever entered Friday unbeaten against Connecticut in 2026. Likes and Dislikes from Fever vs Sun.
Tony East
DISLIKE: Little early resistance
The Fever offense was doing its thing in the first few minutes of the game. It took less than 2.5 minutes for each of the five starters to log at least one point – their balance was working.
Their defense, however, was not working at all. Outside of a Makayla Timpson block that sent back a Raegan Beers shot, the Fever were struggling to be disruptive early.
Connecticut made four triples in the first six minutes and didn't turn the ball over once in that stretch. The Sun entered this game last in three-point percentage and 10th in turnovers, so their early offensive success was surprising.
They raced out to a 24-12 lead, which led to a Fever timeout. The Fever were doing themselves no favors on defense with five turnovers of their own in the first seven minutes.
DISLIKE: Can't make a shot
Lexie Hull scored right at the basket with 7:54 on the clock in the first quarter, marking the third made shot of the game for the Fever.
Their next one didn't come until there was just 13.8 seconds on the clock in the first quarter. In between, the Fever made eight free throws as their only source of points. Ty Harris buried a three to end the drought.
That stretch, combined with early defensive woes and too many turnovers, had the Fever down 28-19 after 10 minutes of play. It was a poor start on both ends.
LIKE: There they are
After an ugly first quarter, the Fever looked like... well, the Fever to kick off the second frame.
It took 4:21 of play for them to tie the game up at 34. In that stretch, a 15-6 Fever run in total, they shot 6/11 from the field, made two jumpers from deep, and forced three turnovers. They were injecting life into the game instead of letting things come to them.
Caitlin Clark looked sharp. Kelesy Mitchell made a stylish pass. The defense was much better. And all of a sudden, the Fever were back in the game – they took back the lead with 4:55 on the clock in the second period.
LIKE: Star guards
Clark and Mitchell were back to their unguardable ways after struggling early in the game. They dominated most of the second quarter, and with 2:04 until halftime Connecticut took a timeout after a Mitchell basket.
At that moment, Clark and Mitchell had combined for 33 points, including 25 in the second period alone. The Sun had 41 points as a team. After trailing by 10 late in the first quarter, the Fever were up by 10 with halftime approaching.
The 20-point turnaround was made possible by dominant guard play. It was 58-43 Fever at halftime.
DISLIKE: The typical third quarter slump
The Fever are third in the WNBA in net rating, which is a relevant baseline to note since they are ninth in third quarter net rating during the month of August.
They have had several lulls to open the second half in recent weeks. And they did once again in this outing. The Fever's lead, once 16, dipped down to 10 in the first three minutes of the third quarter, prompting a timeout from head coach Stephanie White.
It's a concerning trend for the Fever, and one they need to address.
LIKE: Responding
Clark had a double-double after three quarters. Mitchell had already extended her 20-plus point scoring streak. And the Fever, after tripping to start the third period, dominated the last six minutes of it.
Their lead climbed as high as 19 in that stretch, and their defense finally got back in gear after a slow start to the quarter. No one player was dominating – Clark was the closest – but the Fever collectively responded to their low moment to open the half.
And after three frames, they led 79-66.
LIKE: Caitlin Clark, dominating
Clark hit two consecutive threes to effectively shut the door on the Sun late in the fourth quarter.
For much of the game, she was the controlling presence thanks to both her passing and scoring. With 2:52 to go in this game, Clark had 34 points and 12 assists, marking her sixth ever 30-plus point double double.
Somehow, perhaps because her scoring was fairly spread out, Clark's outing with more than 30 points felt almost quiet. She dominated and finished with that 34-point, 12-assist statline.
LIKE: Kelsey Mitchell to close
On the Fever's final possessions before clearing their bench, Mitchell finished a few crafty moves to get her own scoring total up to 34. She and Clark both scored exactly 34 points in this game and made exactly 12 shots each.
Those two are quite good, and when they are this good the Fever are very hard to beat. In this outing, despite a crummy start, the Fever were almost impossible to topple. They beat the Sun 111-91 to improve to 26-14 with four games to go.
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