Kelsey Mitchell Shines as Fever Beat Aces 80-70

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Kelsey Mitchell Shines as Fever Beat Aces 80-70/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 points to lead the Indiana Fever to an 80-70 win over the Las Vegas Aces. Caitlin Clark remained sidelined with a groin injury. Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston both recorded double-doubles in the key win.

Fever Beat Aces Without Clark + Quick Looks

Kelsey Mitchell scores 21 in Clark’s absence
Natasha Howard (18 pts, 13 rebs) leads third-quarter surge
Aliyah Boston contributes 13 points, 10 rebounds
Sophie Cunningham adds 15 points off the bench
A’ja Wilson leads Aces with 20 points
Fever snap two-game losing streak post-All-Star break
Indiana holds Las Vegas to two points in crucial 4-minute stretch
Fever improve to 13-12, Aces fall to 12-12
No timetable announced for Clark’s return from groin injury

Kelsey Mitchell Shines as Fever Beat Aces 80-70

Deep Look

The Indiana Fever delivered a gritty performance Thursday night, defeating the Las Vegas Aces 80-70 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, despite being without their rookie sensation Caitlin Clark. Kelsey Mitchell stepped up in Clark’s absence, pouring in 21 points and guiding her team past one of the WNBA’s most formidable squads.

Clark, who continues to recover from a groin injury sustained earlier this month, remained sidelined as the Fever announced there is no timetable for her return. However, recent medical tests revealed no additional complications — a cautiously optimistic development for Indiana fans.

In her stead, veterans and rising stars took control. Natasha Howard recorded a powerful double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while All-Star forward Aliyah Boston added 13 points and 10 boards. The frontcourt duo powered the Fever during a critical third-quarter surge where Indiana outscored the Aces 27-20.

Howard, in particular, dominated the third frame, scoring 11 points and helping the Fever flip a halftime deficit into a six-point lead entering the fourth. Las Vegas struggled to recover. Indiana’s defense locked in late, holding the Aces scoreless for a four-minute stretch in the final quarter. That defensive stand turned a 62-62 tie into a seven-point advantage, with Indiana ahead 69-62 with just over four minutes left.

Sophie Cunningham contributed significantly off the bench with 15 points, while Aari McDonald buried a clutch three-pointer in the final minutes. Cunningham’s late free throws sealed the victory for Indiana, who improved to 13-12 on the season.

Aces Struggle Despite Wilson’s 20

A’ja Wilson, one of the league’s premier scorers, led the Aces with 20 points but was unable to replicate the dominance of her recent 30-point outings. Jackie Young added 19 points, and NaLyssa Smith, playing against her former team, contributed a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Las Vegas, now 12-12, struggled with execution late. After Jewell Loyd hit a jumper to trim Indiana’s lead to 75-70 with under two minutes to play, the Aces failed to score again. Indiana’s late-game defense, combined with disciplined offensive possessions, shut the door on the defending champs.

The Aces had won three straight coming into the contest but now head to Minnesota on Friday looking to rebound. Indiana, meanwhile, travels to face the Chicago Sky on Sunday, hoping to build momentum as they await Clark’s return.

First-Half Recap: A Tight Battle

The Fever got off to a strong start, leading for most of the first quarter before Las Vegas tied it 18-18 behind a string of free throws. Wilson opened the second quarter hot, scoring six of the Aces’ first eight points as Las Vegas built a short-lived 26-18 lead.

Indiana stormed back, briefly grabbing a 33-29 lead, but Las Vegas responded with a 12-2 run powered by Loyd’s three-point shooting. The Aces held a 41-35 halftime edge, setting the stage for Indiana’s decisive second-half turnaround.