Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark lead Indiana Fever to win over Atlanta

ATLANTA — The Indiana Fever eeked out a victory over the Atlanta Dream, 84-79, Monday night for their 14th win of the season — their highest number of wins since 2016, Tamika Catchings’ final season and Indiana’s last trip to the postseason.

The Dream (10-19) didn’t make it easy, though. The Fever nearly blew a 14-point lead, with the Dream getting within two points at the 3-minute mark of the fourth quarter. But ill-timed fouls by Atlanta kept Indiana in front, allowing the Fever just enough breathing room in the final minutes.

‘Pace and passing’:Lynx coach reveals Caitlin Clark’s biggest assets for Fever

The Fever are now 14-16 and remain seventh place in the WNBA standings, still in the playoff picture.

Here are three observations:

Caitlin Clark rolls ankle, quickly returns to game

Fever fans in the building collectively held their breath when Fever rookie Caitlin Clark fell, clutching her ankle, in the middle of the first quarter. She got tied up with Nia Coffey near the free-throw line and rolled her ankle, tumbling to the ground in pain.

Clark stayed on the ground for a while, her teammates surrounding her as the Fever called a timeout and had trainers come over to check out her ankle. After a long pause, Clark eventually was helped up off the ground and walked back to the bench.

Evidently, it didn’t seem like it was anything to worry about. Clark never left the bench, getting taped up as play resumed and Erica Wheeler subbed in for her. She sat on the bench for the rest of the quarter (about three minutes of game time), then checked back in for the second quarter with no limp in sight.

Slight ankle injuries aren’t new to Clark — she rolled the same ankle against the Sun back in May, going back to the locker room to get it checked out. She eventually returned to that game, too, and said postgame, “every basketball player has an ankle injury. If you don’t, you’re not a true baller.”

Lexie Hull starts second half in place of Katie Lou Samuelson

For multiple games at the beginning of the season, Lexie Hull sat on the bench for full games. DNP-Coach’s Decision showed up to her name next to multiple box scores — a stark difference for someone who started most of the Fever’s games in 2023.

Now, Hull is getting starter-level minutes off the bench.

She played 30 minutes Monday night, finishing with two points, four rebounds and two assists and had +/- of +4.

The third-year guard has played 20 or more minutes in each of the Fever’s past three games, including Monday’s contest against the Dream. She’s known for her defensive abilities, but she also has flashes of offensive prowess — including a career-high 22 points on 6-of-7 shooting against the Storm last week. She tallied a second-straight double-digit game against Minnesota, putting in 10 points in the Fever’s loss to the Lynx.

While Hull has been playing more and more minutes, it means fewer for Katie Lou Samuelson, who typically starts at the 3. Samuelson only played 14 minutes against the Lynx on Saturday, while Hull played 26. On Monday, Samuelson was limited to seven minutes and took just one shot. Samuelson has only made one shot in the three games since the Olympic break, going 1-of-11 from the field.

Kelsey Mitchell notches fourth straight game with 20+ points

If her recent play is any indication, the Olympic break was great for Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell. A two-time All-Star, Mitchell is averaging over 24 points per game in the Fever’s four games since the Olympic break.

She’s been a consistent scorer the entire season, averaging 17.8 points per game, but her scoring has found a new level.

More:Kelsey Mitchell ‘excited’ for free agency — that’s if she hits market.

Mitchell weaved around defenders in the 38 minutes she was on the floor Monday night and shot 10-of-23 from the field. Her two free throws with five seconds left put the Fever up five points, sealing a victory and giving Mitchell 29 points.

How many points did Caitlin Clark score against the Dream?

Clark tied the rookie record for 3-pointers made Monday night, making four to bring her total to 85. The Dream’s Rhyne Howard set the record in her rookie season in 2022. Now, Clark has 10 more games to set her own record.

The Fever rookie finished the game with 19 points on 6-of-14 shooting (4-of-8 from 3-point range), and added on seven rebounds and seven assists.