INDIANAPOLIS – “I think he was a freshman.”
“Yes, I was in eighth grade.”
That’s what Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, respectively, said quietly to each other on opposite ends of the television. Indiana Feverfrom the postgame podium, while Kelsey Mitchell answered a question about the team’s first four-game home winning streak since 2015.
But with an 88-81 loss to the Washington Mystics, the Fever earned their fourth consecutive victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, something this team had not accomplished in nine years. Mitchell, who was among the franchise’s first overall picks in 2022 and 2023, is the longest-tenured Fever player, and even she was still playing and attending Ohio State the last time the Fever did this.
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Wednesday saw another sell-out crowd of 17,274 people to watch the fever pass. It was the Fever’s third straight win overall, all at home over the past week. The Fever never trailed on Wednesday and tied their third-highest point total of the year. After a 1-8 start, Indiana has won five of its last seven games.
“These were big games and I’m proud of us,” Clark said. “I felt like we took it game by game, we never looked too far ahead.”
The Fever are now 4-4 at home after losing their first four games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this season. The young team has learned to rely on large crowds for momentum, especially in close games.
“We felt the energy,” Boston said. “We used that to our advantage. They are clapping very loudly, so we are grateful that they continue to show up and are very loud because we are playing hard for them too.”
At least 15,000 fans have come out to watch the Fever at their eight home games this year. While those spectators produced groans and quiet moments to start the year, lately they have applauded the home team endlessly.
“We are proud of our city and the people who represent us,” Mitchell said. “So I think it drives us. It kind of helps cheer us up or whatever we need as a group.”
The trio of Mitchell, Boston and Clark combined for 62 of Indiana’s 88 points in the victory. They, along with NaLyssa Smith (11 points), have felt comfortable around each other, and the win column is starting to reflect that.
The Fever now have five consecutive away games ahead of them. When they head to Atlanta to face the Dream on Friday, they will have a chance to put together their first four-game winning streak since 2015. The mission now is to travel with this momentum and cohesion.
“You just have to take it one game at a time,” Clark said of the key to racking up wins. “And the next two are against teams we played last week, so they will certainly want revenge. But I also feel that the confidence we have been able to generate in the last three games is to continue taking a step forward and learn from each game. And if we lose one, how will we respond? I think that has been something important for us as well.”
The Fever responded to a demoralizing loss in Connecticut on June 10 with three much-needed wins in front of their home fans. If they can stay afloat during their upcoming road trip, this team will have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
This article originally appeared in the Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever Sold Out Crowds Cause Joy With 4 Straight Home Wins