Aliyah Boston led the Indiana Fever with a strong performance, scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds, but the Fever still fell 88-84 to the Washington Mystics on Friday night at home. Indiana played once again without former No. 1 overall pick Caitlin Clark, who remains sidelined due to a right groin injury sustained on July 15.
Clark, the reigning Rookie of the Year, has appeared in only 13 games this season because of multiple setbacks. Before the injury, she was averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game. Without Clark, the Fever struggled to maintain their offensive rhythm despite solid contributions from Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, who added 14 points and nine assists.
Mystics Gain Edge Through Consistent Scoring and Team Play
Washington’s Sonia Citron emerged as the top scorer with 21 points, alongside two rebounds and three assists, guiding the Mystics to their victory and improving their season record to 15-18. Indiana dropped to 18-16 but remains in sixth place as the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/wnba/”>WNBA playoff race intensifies.
Kelsey Mitchell came out strong for the Fever, scoring 10 points and providing five assists by halftime. Natasha Howard and Odyssey Sims contributed nine points each, while Sophie Cunningham struggled early, shooting 0-for-1 in the first half but dishing out three assists. Boston had scored six points by halftime.
Turnovers and Momentum Shifts Define First Half and Beyond
The first half saw both teams combine for 13 turnovers, with Indiana capitalizing by scoring six points off giveaways and holding Washington scoreless on their own turnovers. The Fever built a 13-point lead early in the second quarter; however, the Mystics rallied to reduce the gap to 45-40 by halftime.
The third quarter was tightly contested, with the Mystics outscoring Indiana 22-19, narrowing the lead to just two going into the final quarter. Despite Indiana’s efforts to hold Washington off during the fourth quarter, the Fever were unable to retake the lead. Boston’s layup cut the deficit to two points with just over six seconds remaining, but the Mystics closed out the game at the free-throw line.
Next Challenges Ahead with Clark’s Return Uncertain
Fever coach Stephanie White confirmed there is no set timetable for Caitlin Clark’s return to the court. Indiana now looks ahead to a road game against the last-place Connecticut Sun on Sunday as they seek to maintain their position in the playoff standings and improve their form without their leading guard.