On Friday evening, the Indiana Fever will continue their impressive form as they aim for a sixth straight victory when they face off against the Minnesota Lynx. The game is set to take place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 7:30 p.m. ET, marking the second matchup of a six-game homestand for the Fever. This will be their first encounter with the Lynx since a hard-fought battle on August 24, where Indiana fell 90-80 at the Target Center. Earlier in the season, the Fever secured a win against the Lynx on July 14, with a score of 81-74. Key contributors in both games included center Aliyah Boston, guards Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, and forward NaLyssa Smith, all of whom scored in double figures.
With the Fever currently positioned as the No. 6 seed and the Lynx holding the No. 3 spot, Friday’s matchup could potentially preview a first-round playoff clash. Indiana’s recent form was boosted by a 93-86 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, thus clinching the regular season series against them. Caitlin Clark, who has been outstanding recently, was named the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month and the Rookie of the Month for August. Clark’s stellar performance included a triple-double against the Sparks, with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. She also set a WNBA record for the most assists and three-pointers in a single season. Clark is just one three-pointer away from surpassing Kelsey Mitchell’s franchise record for most made three-pointers in a season and is closing in on 300 assists.
In August, Minnesota was only surpassed by one other team in losses, suffering a defeat to the Dallas Wings but otherwise performing exceptionally well. In their most recent game on Sunday, the Lynx defeated the Chicago Sky 79-74, with guard Courtney Williams leading the charge with 22 points and six assists, while forward Napheesa Collier added 15 points. In scoring statistics, Clark, Mitchell, and Collier all rank within the top ten, averaging over 18 points per game. Both Boston and Collier are also prominent in the rebounding category, each pulling down at least 9.1 rebounds per game.
Both teams exhibit strong defensive and shooting metrics, with Indiana ranking fourth in blocks and second in field goal percentage, while Minnesota is just behind in both categories. Clark leads the league in assists, but Minnesota tops the charts in overall assists per game. This game promises to be a thrilling encounter with high stakes, given the close competition between the teams in several key statistical areas.
