Aug 11, 2024; Paris, France; United States small forward Napheesa Collier (11) celebrates on the podium after defeating France in the women’s gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports The Indiana Fever began the season on a blistering streak of nine games in 17 days.
Indiana’s 26 games were more than any other team before the month-long Olympic break. Since returning, the Fever (13-15) played two games in three days before getting a six-day rest that ends Saturday against the Minnesota Lynx (21-8) in Minneapolis.
“The momentum that we had going, I wish we could have a couple days, get a breather and play,” Indiana head coach Christie Sides said. “This time, we’re going to get everything we can out of it. Working on things we can do to beat Minnesota.”
Caitlin Clark recorded 23 points and nine assists in the Fever’s 92-75 victory over the Seattle Storm on Sunday. Clark boasts team-leading averages in points (17.8) and assists (8.3), while Aliyah Boston leads the team in rebounds (9.0) and blocks (1.4).
Indiana posted an 81-74 victory over the Lynx in Minneapolis on July 14 in the lone meeting between the teams thus far this season. Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 points and Clark and Boston each added 17 against Minnesota, which played without star Napheesa Collier.
Collier missed the last five pre-break games with a foot injury before returning in a big way during the Olympics.
Minnesota has won its first four games in August, each by double digits, and Collier has led the way by averaging 24.3 points.
On Friday, Collier scored 27 points and added a career-best 18 rebounds in Minnesota’s 87-74 win over the Las Vegas Aces. Collier outrebounded the Aces, who had 17.
“This is why you play sports, for stuff like this,” Collier said. “I had a ball.”
Collier boasts team-leading averages in points (20.7), rebounds (10.2) and steals (2.1).
–Field Level Media
