Indiana Fever beat Atlanta Dream 83-71 in Cup opener

The Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream 83-71 on Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, marking the first game of the WNBA Commissioners Cup tournament for both teams. The matchup featured another chapter in the high-profile professional rivalry between Fever rookie Caitlin Clark and Dream forward Angel Reese.

Clark led the Fever with 17 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. Reese recorded a double-double for Atlanta with 11 points and 10 rebounds, adding three assists and two blocks. However, the standout performance came from Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, who scored a game-high 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting. Mitchell’s scoring burst included 11 consecutive points in a pivotal third-quarter run that helped Indiana pull away after Atlanta had briefly taken the lead.

Aliyah Boston contributed 19 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks for the Fever. The victory was notable for Indiana’s defensive effort, as the team held an opponent to a season-low point total. The Dream, who entered the game with the Eastern Conference’s best record at 6-3, were led by 13 points each from Allisha Gray and Jordin Canada.

The game was the first meeting this season...