Fever rally for historic comeback, Mitchell bolsters MVP Case, Cunningham injured
Indiana erased a 21-point deficit to stun the Sun in overtime, powered by Kelsey Mitchell’s 38 points, a franchise-record double-double from Aliyah Boston, and big minutes from newcomer Odyssey Sims.
The Indiana Fever pulled off the largest comeback in franchise history on Sunday afternoon, rallying from a 21-point deficit to force overtime before winning 99-93. They did it without their fourth point guard after Sophie Cunningham went down with a right knee injury early in the second quarter. She will undergo an MRI.
Already, the team is without Caitlin Clark, Sydney Colson, and Aari McDonald due to injuries.
Kelsey Mitchell erupted for 34 of her game-high 38 points (tying her career high) to carry the Fever back. It also matches the largest single-game scoring performance of any WNBA player this season. After missing all 10 of their first-half 3-point attempts, the Fever went 7 for 12 in the second half — with Mitchell knocking down five of them.
“It sucked for me, first half,” she said. “It just wasn't (good). And I think that it wasn't as well for our group, but the resiliency is true in our room.
“… I think a lot of it was just God and being able to stay prepared and stay in your state to be able to compete. But I really think that that's the most resilient that we've ever been because of everything we've been through. So I think a lot of it just you just tap into your team and you just love on your team. And I think great things can happen.”
Indiana used a big fourth-quarter run to even the score in a game they trailed most of the way.
They needed contributions from everyone, including Odyssey Sims, who logged a game-high 42 minutes just a week after joining the team. Sims finished with 19 points and 7 assists. Aliyah Boston added 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists for her 15th double-double of the season, setting a new franchise record.
“When we came in at halftime, we talked about one, chipping away, being resilient,” Boston said. “That's kind of been our story this entire season. And that's just what we do. But I think right now, even through adversity, I think we're able to see just God's blessing over us. I mean, we're down 21, and we come back and we play. And I think what stands out the most is just everyone coming in and affecting the game the way they did. And it's just been great.”
The Fever now have four days between games to exhale, reset, practice, and prepare for the final nine contests of the regular season — with whoever is available.
Watch my video recap above, including postgame comments from Stephanie White, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell.
Clark Update
White was asked pregame about Clark’s path to returning and whether the urgency to close out the season will impact when. There remains no timeline to return from the right groin injury.
“It doesn't really shift anything with Caitlin,” said White. “I think it continues to be — the most important thing is that she's 100% when she's ready to come back. The timing, it's never ideal. But her long-term health and wellness is the most important thing.
“I think just the experience throughout the year, trying to come back and come back quickly has also taught her that she needs to make sure that she's 100%.”
See Also:
