“I don’t know how you step on to the floor with 20,000 people in the stands and perform like that.” You might assume that’s a fan bashing, right? Well, that was Becky Hammon absolutely unloading on her own team. She had every reason to be fuming. The Aces just recorded their lowest-scoring game since Hammon became head coach back in 2022. A total meltdown. But while it was a first for Hammon in the worst possible way, it was the best kind of first for the Indiana Fever. Caitlin Clark & Co. pulled off something they hadn’t done in years – beat Las Vegas.

This win came just two nights after they had already shocked the league by winning the Commissioner’s Cup title. They absolutely dominated the Minnesota Lynx, 74-59, in their home building. It was their most complete game of the season. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, they turned around with zero championship hangover and smacked the Aces, 81-54. 

Why’s that such a big deal? Well, like Fever insider Scott Agness put it: “Tonight was the Fever’s first win over the Aces since 2019 — after 16 straight losses.” That’s five years of frustration unloaded in one unforgettable night. And Kelsey Mitchell had something to say about that.

 “Organizations go through certain things. You know, there’s lows in every part of life. And I think for us in the Fever, it was our time. And I think we kind of deserved it based on our preparation and everything we had been through prior to this game,” she said. “I think you guys got to see what it looked like for us to stay resilient throughout the course of, what, 48 hours. We just played Minnesota, and we got to prepare for this.”

She’s absolutely right. After a perfect road performance in the Cup, Indiana came back home and delivered an equally perfect follow-up. Sure, they celebrated – we saw the viral IG Lives and dancing videos – but they didn’t lose focus. Mitchell said they’d enjoy the moment, but it was clear this team had bigger goals.

What happened next? Back to practice. No Caitlin Clark still – she’s missed four straight games with that groin injury – but that didn’t stop her and Aliyah Boston from having a little half-court shootout. Boston teased her, the two laughed, and it was clear the vibes were as strong as ever. But make no mistake, the mood was serious too. They knew what was on the line. 

The Aces had beaten Indiana earlier this season, 89-81, in Vegas. Clark played in that one. But this time, even without her, head coach Stephanie White believed her squad had leveled up. “I think we’re a better defensive team today than we were the last time we played them even though it wasn’t very long ago,” she said. She was so right.

This win ended the second-longest head-to-head losing streak in WNBA history. Indiana was locked in. Mitchell continued that tear, putting up at least 20 points for the fifth time in six games. From the jump, Indiana’s offense was cooking. It was smooth, fluid, like poetry in motion. And defensively, it couldn’t have been better. They completely suffocated the Aces, holding them to just 25.8% shooting in the first half. Vegas kept trying to run their usual stuff, but everything stalled into one-action sets, and it was just Wilson carrying the weight.

A’ja Wilson did everything she could – 29 points on 9-of-18 shooting – but when your other starters combine for only 12, that’s not going to cut it. Meanwhile, Indiana was getting whatever it wanted in the paint. They scored 28 of their 46 first-half points down low, and it didn’t slow down from there. By the time the final buzzer hit, it was an 81-54 blowout. So now, the standings tell a different story. The Fever are 9-8 and rising. The Aces are 8-9 and sliding, having lost two of their last three.

What made the difference? Preparation. Execution. Resilience. And as Mitchell said, maybe it was just finally their time. Amidst it all, they gave us plenty of heroic moments to talk about. 

Lexie Hull & Kelsey Mitchell impress with gritty play as coach Caitlin Clark cheers Fever on

The Indiana Fever leaned on hustle plays and timely shooting to pull off what might be one of their most satisfying wins of the season. Even with a double-digit lead, they didn’t let up. Late in the third quarter, Sophie Cunningham read the Aces like a book, stepped in front of a backcourt pass, and cashed it in with a slick layup.

But the moment that really cracked the game wide open? That came smack in the middle of the third. Lexie Hull dove on a loose ball right in the paint, got possession while everyone else was standing around, and dished it out to Kelsey Mitchell in the corner. Mitchell drained the three. The lead jumped to 19, and that was pretty much that. 

The Fever held on from there. The team’s X account called it the Rush Bowls Play of the Game, and for good reason. Mitchell led the charge with 25 points and just kept hitting big shots when it mattered. Hull, on the other hand, was all over the place, finishing with 6 points and 7 rebounds, doing the little things that don’t always make headlines but definitely win games.

And even though Caitlin Clark is still sidelined with that groin injury, she is not just sitting around. She’s been showing up for fans before tip-off, signing autographs like always. During games, she’s letting the refs know what she’s seeing. One clip from the game had Stephanie White talking toward the bench, and Clark gave her a playful side-eye and smirk that fans are now calling “Coach Clark” energy online.

But, surely, Indy is living its good basketball days. Just a week ago, this team was hit with another setback right after getting Clark back. Now, they’re rising. Hope they’re here to stay.