The densely packed Target Center in Minneapolis hosted one of the most anticipated matchups of the season on Sunday as the Indiana Fever took on the Minnesota Lynx in what could be a preview of this year’s WNBA Finals. For rookie Olivia Miles, the electrifying atmosphere in the arena dominated by Fever fans was unusual.
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She spoke about the feeling when asked how it felt to play in front of a crowd of 16,505 fans, as reported by Andrew Dukowitz on X, a Lynx beat writer.
“Yeah, special. It was weird hearing fans cheer on the other team’s scored. That’s what I knew the majority of the fans were Fever fans, but also when we would score, it was really loud as well. So both ways, there was cheering for both baskets, and it was just loud in there. So that energy is what you want as a basketball player to go out there and compete and hear fans into it on both sides and just glad we got it done.”
Miles led the charge for the Lynx as they passed a crucial test for their title-challenging credentials for this season. She finished the night with 28 points, four rebounds and six assists, while Courtney Williams added another 27 points, as the Lynx edged past the Fever 108-100. This marked their 10th straight win for the first time since 2016.
This loss ended the Fever’s five-game winning streak, and losing at home to the number one side in the league exposes the gaps still present in Indiana’s defense. Kelsey Mitchell’s scoring kept the Fever in the game, as she finished the night with 37 points, while Caitlin Clark added another 19 points and 10 assists. But none of it was enough to stave off the Lynx.
With just over two minutes left in the game, Indiana showed they have the league’s best offense, pulling up just two points short of the Lynx, the league’s second-best defensive side. But Olivia Miles and Co. held on for the win, as Indiana desperately tried to salvage the game.
For the Fever, this was a record sixth consecutive game in which they scored 100 or more points. But they have made it a habit to concede freely as well, especially in transitional play. This is something they would look to address in the coming weeks if they hope to beat teams like the Lynx in the postseason.
Lynx head coach acknowledged that both teams were playing their best offense, per the WNBA website report. She expects a harder battle at their next matchup.
“We felt like we had to really fight to win, and glad we did that. The next time we play them, each team is going to have a lot more information.”
The atmosphere inside the arena, which surprised Miles, might be a product of what is being called ‘The Caitlin Clark Effect’, filling stadiums to the brim with cheering fans. Olivia Miles certainly got to know why the Fever fans say that “Every game is a home game” for them.
Fever would look to bounce back from this loss as they take on another team challenging for the title this season, the Las Vegas Aces, on Thursday.