NaLyssa Smith had 21 factors and 9 rebounds, Caitlin Clark added 16 factors and 7 assists, and the Indiana Fever beat the Atlanta Dream 91-79 on Friday evening in entrance a record-breaking 17,575 followers at State Farm Area.
Atlanta set a franchise file for single-game dwelling attendance, surpassing the 11,609 followers who noticed the crew’s inaugural recreation in opposition to the Detroit Shock in 2008 at Philips Area.
The sport was performed on the dwelling of the Atlanta Hawks on account of excessive ticket demand to see Clark, the No 1 draft decide. The Dream’s typical dwelling at Gateway Heart Area in Faculty Park has a capability of three,500.
The hyped matchup took successful when it was introduced that Rhyne Howard, the 2022 high decide for Atlanta, wouldn’t play on account of a decrease leg damage.
Indiana scored a season-high 35 first-quarter factors to construct a 10-point lead after capturing 70% from the sector.
Clark made her fourth three-pointer, and Indiana’s tenth, to increase the result in 71-60 halfway by way of the third quarter. It got here throughout an 11-3 run that resulted in a 79-62 lead. The Fever cruised within the fourth.
Connecticut Solar 74-85 Las Vegas Aces
A’ja Wilson had 26 factors and 16 rebounds, Kelsey Plum added 18 factors and Las Vegas beat Connecticut, their seventh win within the final 9 conferences between the groups together with the 2022 WNBA finals.
It was Wilson’s fourth recreation this season with 25-plus factors and 15-plus rebounds — one shy of Tina Charles’ WNBA file of 5, set in 2021. Wilson additionally reached 20-plus factors for the nineteenth straight regular-season recreation.
Las Vegas has gained two straight for the primary time since Might 29. Connecticut, which was off to its greatest 14-game begin in franchise historical past, misplaced for the primary time in six street contests this season.
Las Vegas’ double-digit lead was trimmed to seven factors halfway by way of the third quarter, however the Aces closed on a 9-3 run for a 63-50 lead. They opened the fourth on a 7-3 run to make it 70-53.
Alysha Clark added 11 factors off the bench for Las Vegas. Kiah Stokes grabbed 10 rebounds to assist the Aces dominate the glass 42-29.