Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell each scored 34 points Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Indiana Fever beat the Connecticut Sun 111-91 in their final game before the league pauses for the FIBA Women's World Cup.
Both guards reached 30 points in the same game for the fourth time this season, a WNBA single-season record for a duo. They are the first teammates in league history to each score 30+ in consecutive games.
Clark and Mitchell scored or assisted on 92 of Indiana's 111 points, the third-highest in league history, according to Elias Sports Bureau. They set that record Sunday at Chicago, accounting for 98.
Clark shot 12-of-19 from the field and 6-of-12 from 3, with 12 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. It was her fifth game this season with 30+ points and 10+ assists.
Fever coach Stephanie White said the backcourt reminded her of Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter, who won WNBA titles together in Phoenix in 2007 and 2009.
"You think back to those Phoenix days, like they were a dynamic backcourt that could put up big numbers, could both get their own shot, could get other people involved," White said. "But it's been a long time since we've seen the explosiveness of two players like what Kelsey and Caitlin have been doing, and doing it with remarkable consistency."
Mitchell went 12-of-19 from the field, 4-of-9 from 3-point range, and 6-of-10 at the free-throw line. Friday was her 24th consecutive game with at least 20 points. She broke the record of 20 straight held by A'ja Wilson on Aug. 20 in Dallas. Entering Friday, Mitchell was averaging a career-best 24.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 32.9 minutes across 39 games.
Clark has averaged 22.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists in 35 games this season. She appeared in 13 games last season because of a series of leg injuries, and she missed time in June and early July with back trouble.
By her own account, Clark has not felt better at any point in her career.
"I think it was a battle for the first 20 games for me to really find my confidence again, mostly in my body," Clark said. "Now I feel like just playing, not thinking."
Connecticut led 28-14 early, but Indiana closed the first quarter on a 10-0 run into the second. Clark and Mitchell scored the first 12 points of an 18-2 run, ending the half with Indiana ahead 58-43. Indiana outscored Connecticut 39-15 in the second quarter.
The Sun cut the deficit to 62-52 midway through the third. Indiana answered with a 14-5 run to lead 76-57.
Mitchell recorded her 911th career assist in the third quarter, surpassing Fever assistant coach Briann January and moving into second on the franchise list. Tamika Catchings holds the record at 1,488.
On 67 attempts, Indiana shot 58.2% from the field, making 12-of-29 from 3-point range and scoring 46 in the paint. Aliyah Boston had 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks. Makayla Timpson added 10 points and 8 rebounds off the bench.
Diamond Miller scored 19 points for Connecticut, Nell Angloma had 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Aaliyah Edwards and Hailey Van Lith each scored 12. The Sun have lost six of their past eight, are 10-29, and are eliminated from playoff contention. Their last win was Wednesday against the Chicago Sky, with Edwards scoring a career-high 26 points.
The Fever are 26-14 and lead the Eastern Conference. Clark and Boston are on the United States roster for the World Cup, which runs Sept. 4-13 in Berlin, and White is an assistant coach on Kara Lawson's staff. Indiana's next game is Sept. 18 at the Toronto Tempo.
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