Indiana Fever vs Atlanta Dream FULL Highlights August 26, 2024 | WNBA Season 2024

[Music] I'm thank you Dr Cohen for all you in the CDC D I've got $50 courtesy of our partners at the georgo lottery for thisi starting got number seven of Le of Boston and that out State Farm Arena and the dream are looking to avenge their last high priority for the dream as we close out this season her Hall of Fame career now second on the all-time scoring list passing through them the last three games scor 20 or more points aiyah Bost was on the coaching staff with the atlan and Indiana fever went it 91 to 79 to the left P fake and a quick bucket on the pick and roll and we see it there off the mark first attempt and Aaliyah Bost good Boston doesn't get it to go but on second attempt especially when Atlanta is switching and she has a guard on her around the [Applause] bucket Ryan Howard in and out Caitlyn Clark comes down with the [Applause] [Music] rebound Indiana has won the last two against Atlanta this [Applause] season Nelissa Smith at the top of the key being harassed at the top by NS Hilman and it just looks easy for aiyah Boston it looks easy but Boston really battled for position against Tina Charles for that entire possession off the deck Jordan Canada can't connect and they've been held to one side Kelsey Mitchell The elusive score gets another bucket a quick 0 run for Indiana and that is what you worry about defensively if you're tiisha right the pace of this Indiana Fever team on a Miss by Atlanta or even taking it out they can get up the floor so quickly off the pass or the dribble Atlanta looking for their first bucket right now 12th in points 12th in assists and Aliah Al gray knocks down the triple that's a good bucket for Alisha gray picking up where she left off she was huge in terms of her offensive uction against Phoenix but the response for Caitlyn Clark top of the key three on the board and it looked like she got that one over the top of Jordan Canada who's giving up a couple of inches to Caitlyn Clark but has the quickness and speed when she finds herself matched up against 22 in red that'll be fun to watch tonight Jordan Canada standing at 5-6 Caitlyn Clark at 6 foot a foul called against Indiana and aiyah Boston picks up her first going back to that last bucket by Indiana I talked about the defense on Caitlyn Clark and Jordan Canada looks to close out but again she's giving up a little size and Clark's so good at creating separation and getting that shot up quickly n Hillman stepping to the line her seventh start for Atlanta it's been really solid but more than just what she can provide offensively she really is that cleanup type of player it's how she defends as well she does everything she defends on cleanup she sets good screens she's going to rim run hard you never have to worry about about her boxing out she does all the little things communication total leader on the floor Caitlyn frees herself up again that one back iron and Ryan Howard comes down with the [Applause] rebound same spot gray lines it up connect excellent pass by Ryan Howard she understands that the defense is going to shift in her Direction and that was a tough pass to make across the court but again the quick bucket by Indiana it's almost like Kelsey Mitchell is just her first is almost like everyone else is third Up and Under no good for Ryan Howard the quick kick out Kelsey Mitchell again at The Rim this time held up by nman transition defense is so important for Atlanta they have to get back and get set make Indiana SE bodies Melissa Smith was trying to body Tina Charles on the inside so that will be the first foul for Tina Charles we'll quickly take a look then long rebounds Indiana's going to take a fair amount of three-pointers everyone has to be there to crash Melissa Smith on the board and that's a player Christy sides has asked throughout this season to give more on both ends of the floor her ceiling so high trying to see if she can get her more looks on the inside as another foul is going to go against Atlanta and you're right about Alysa Smith but the one thing to consider too is that team roster has continued to develop as they have Timmy F binl and Deus Dantes as reinforcement there're only three players with more than six years of exper experience in the WNBA doas being one of them spent some time in Atlanta 3 Seasons zag vlay also missed seven games prior to the one she was just able to play in due to the foot injury and plate 16 minutes I'm sure we'll see her soon here oh is that a late whistle cuz there was definitely contact it looked like on that attempt by Alicia gray let's see here yeah see how Clark grabbed her from the back that should have been a foul but the Baseline official could not see that and going lie you know what they say angel heard that a time or two outside the logo Ryan Howard short Smith securing the rebound and right now a 15 to8 lead for Indiana coming off a loss against the links 80 to 90 great defense by Lorella kubai on Aaliyah Boston gray able to secure it back during Canada top of the key lets it Go and that's a different look in conversation than we saw in Phoenix that's a big bucket and Canada went three for seven from long range against Phoenix and that gives them an extra pump on the offensive end a player that can knock it down and create space you mentioned the presence of lurella Kuai with shyen Parker t out in a beautiful pass by Caitlyn Clark but no connection from Aaliyah Boston in and out Jordan Canada at the rim and is one of the best with finding the contact and getting to the free throw line and I know we started this game talking about Tina Charles but adding Jordan Canada to this matchup with Indiana could be a game changer because of how she impacts the floor on both in Alicia gray caral it Canada lines it up bucket contest and when the next five straight to help them win bronze just a few weeks ago thanks sa I think the biggest part of that is the chemistry just understanding how how to play off of one another we can say that about Indiana as well there was a team that did not have that chemistry and you can tell the difference that made as the season progress but Brian Howard also understanding what type of player she needs to be in the season with so many different pieces added to the roster yeah I think her 3x3 participation came at the right time she had missed the 10 games before the Olympic break came back played believe one contest before that break um and so it helped with her conditioning and also to tap point the physicality and it's just a different style of basketball that helps her overall IQ one on the shot clock Boston put it up got her own rebound blocked at The Rim by Nia coffee yes she can do that Nia coffee had a block party the other night against Phoenix I don't think they put every block she should have gotten in the Box Score but she was very disruptive and you see Tenisha Wright rewarding her with some early minutes in this game also because of the absence of Cheyenne Parker TUS missing her third game due to an lower leg injury that she suffered against Connecticut four on the shot clock Corner three and sandon continues to just have rows hasn't scored in the last two games and only one field goal in the prior [Music] two that call is going to go Atlanta's way great box out by Nia coffee Melissa Smith called with the foul and Atlanta it's a look for some points on the inside right now Indiana owning that department 12 to zip but it's much better than the first two meetings before between these teams Angel June 13th the fever scored 33 points in the first quarter June 21st they had 35 in the first quarter and they didn't have Jordan Canada who was able to get another look in the paint and stepping up to for two more free throws that is going to be a very difficult matchup for Caitlyn Clark trying to contain Jordan Canada off of the bout she's so quick very exposive I can take some physicality and keep in mind she comes to this team having won two championships as a part of the Seattle Storm organization so her experience and the playoff experience she has is vital for the Atlanta you got to think Tanisha wri also asking her to start putting her foot on the gas especially getting to the rim she didn't shoot any free throws against Phoenix in their game on Friday went two for two the game prior to that against Phoenix but now we're seeing back to back looks for her at the charity strp yeah I mean the time that she has missed Within injury it's incredible her conditioning I mean she is in great shape to have Miss significant time that she did this year less than four minutes to play in the first first quarter Atlanta on a 11 to4 run and they just cled to pain nothing for Caitlyn Clark there really good help once again by Nia coffee Tanisha wri has talked about Nia's basketball IQ on the defensive end that she just knows where to play right here squeezes over it looked like Alicia gray might have gotten Clark on the arm Aaliyah Boston can get score at any level of the floor we've also seen her develop that three she's grown more confident in knocking down this season and having an excellent passing season as well her assist numbers oh no kayin CL just went down and holding her right or left ankle rather so ryanh Howard picks up the foul that'll be her first but all eyes are on Caitlyn Clark who has yet to get off of the floor ah man that left foot that looks very painful and she is still not gotten up from the court we hope she is okay more time right there but you're right angel I mean I mentioned at the top of the show that she is having one of the best rookie seasons in WBA history the 19 assists in the game the triple double as a rookie leading the league and assist and she's only continued to get better as she has adjusted to the WNBA style of Play She Knows what her strengths are and has really propelled the confidence of this Indiana Fever team through the roof it was very interesting having conversation with her at the beginning of the season and with her a lot of people understand that she broke the record for scoring in college but also she was up there in assist as well and she said I'm okay I know I'm not connecting right now but I'm okay with the the gambles that I'm taking with passes and now we're seeing that vision from her as well as her teammates getting used to her on the floor five on the shot clock and Melissa Smith gets the n one Melissa Smith tends to play her best basketball against the Atlanta Dream I was looking at her numbers coming into this game and she had five points in the last two games combined but went to work right here on the spin move and it looked like Lorella kubai got her on the arm but with Caitlin Clark out of the game that changes things for Indiana we have the veteran Erica wheeler on the floor just a different type of point guard floor leader and I expect to see Kelsey Mitchell even more involved on the offensive end having to do more ball handling with Clark out so many different story lines coming into game Erica who spent time in Atlanta in 2022 under Christy sides and she was the assistant but also Nelissa Smith going second in the draft behind Ryan [Applause] Howard wheel on the floor has had sparing minutes but comes off the bench as an energy type player can't connect there as Neo coffee able to come down with a rebound NE cofy has had a quality showing in this first quarter especially on the defensive in [Music] rebounding gray wanted the foul nothing there as we're under two minutes to play in the first [Music] quarter Kelsey Midel doesn't need time to get it up a little strong that's one of those long rebounds that we talked about in our keys to the game and it's a costly one for Atlanta played 16 minutes in their previous game against Minnesota to meet that vlay had four points we talked about the injury that to her foot that she's been working through but expecting big minutes from her gray and Lexi Hull fumbles that one out of bounds it'll go back to Atlanta with also check in with Haley [Applause] Jones it's Jordan Canada now healthy it has shifted the rotation for Tanisha Wright where Haley Jones is playing back minutes she has started a majority of the games this season so gives her a different look as [Applause] well Atlanta looking to end this 70 run by Indiana and call on Ryan Howard when you need a bucket just a well executed play on the offensive end with screening action for Ryan Howard to get the Baseline three Ryan Howard with her first bucket of the game less than a minute to play [Applause] great defense on Mitchell who can be so Shifty but now finding ways to limit them to one rebound Smith up top interesting enough call the Stanford Cardinal sends down Haley Jones what's teammates Ryan Howard pulls up and nothing there so Indiana can hold on to the last shot of this quarter yeah they've had to work really hard for offense since Caitlyn Clark left the game and as I mentioned expect Kelsey Mitchell to do more ball handling on the offensive ENT four on the game clock steps to the side the Lefty just off the mark and that will do it for the first quarter with Indie the dream coming out of the timeout that's Cena Charles's first bucket of the game kin Clark back into the ball game it didn't take her much time to get acclimated yeah really good to see kitly Clark back on the floor you see there was a drought offensively with her out of the game on a few possessions Ryan Howard only had the three points in the first quarter off on that distance three Atlanta's points have come all from the outside no points on the end Indiana on the other end has 16 points in the paint of their 22 in the first quarter a big part of that is aiyah Boston who's now in double figures Atlanta cannot be so concerned about the outside attack of Indiana that they don't guard on the interior you've got to Gap It Up Show bodies but also they need pressure on the passers you said Nelissa Smith was a player at team of childs able to get her second bucket you said Alissa Smith was a player that always LED playing against atlantal aiyah Boston also had her career high against him at 27 now she has 28 but was filling it in Atlanta or against Atlanta Haley Jones still in the lineup turns around can't score over her former teammate deir dantz breaking the ball at the floor she's a familiar face for Atlanta spent several seasons here with the dream [Applause] spent three seasons with Atlanta starting in 2015 17 and 18 as well Tina Charles getting another look the onelegged shot that's pretty much why she's in second place now scoring I mean Tina Charles has come out of that break balling she is on a personal run right now carrying Atlanta's offense six point shooting 75% from the field [Applause] Dantes and that is what Demus Dantes can bring great inside and outside attack with some physicality can stretch the floor she's been a great addition to add to the depth of Indiana's interior look at how she can body up Tina Charles does so many things well but has scored eight points in the last two games Kelsey Mitchell up ahead and a foul called against Haley Jones you mentioned it earlier transition defense so important for Atlanta in this ball game especially Kelsey Mitchell I mean we were concerned about the speed of Kelsey Mitchell with the basketball with before Caitlyn Clark came to the team now she's running without it just waiting for a pass excellent look up the floor by Clark and that chemistry she just couldn't get it to go the Lefty at The Rim missing an easy one hope she's okay cuz she hit the stanion kind of hard as [Music] well Kelsey Mitchell as tough as they come and she steps up for two free throws as we mentioned the last three games he has scored 20 or more points just 10 games with 21 more points in the last two has shot over 80% career-high in field goal percentage boy what a season lost in all the conversation about Indiana and their Improvement is often how important and vital Kelsey Mitchell is to this team in terms of her outside shot her style of play how quickly how quick she is her and Caitlyn Clark really compliment each other so [Music] [Applause] well why not go back Tina Charles she has six points in the quarter and another she might have six and now eight points in the last three minutes I think Angel three minutes have gone off the clock I think uh yeah yeah four for six from the field eight points for Tina Charles in this quarter alone and we're just a couple of minutes in dantz top of the key she can do that as well she can I'm not sure she is able to play in Long stretches quite yet but she looks good not seeing any signs of fatigue so far boy that's that's important for her to be able to add to the [Music] scoring Miss handled under the basket by Jordan Canada Kelsey Mitchell wraps at The Rim it's the scoop for me though Lina that's his tight of a crossover as you will see this is the biggest lead for the Indiana Fever up the score because she can carry the offense in stretches and has the resume to prove it 10-point lead for Indiana the biggest of the ball game as we are approaching the six-minute Mark here in the second quarter n hman gets the ball but a swiped Away by Erica wheeler you have a jump ball and it looks like it will be between Kelsey Mitchell and Nas Hillman good hands by Erica wheeler getting that strip play was ran for Nas Hillman and good call because wheeler is smaller got the matchup Advantage but Indiana got the job done defensively and they're going to jump it up Indiana able to come up with it dtis and the pinpoint pass to Eric by Caitlyn Clark didn't like to look at The Rim so they'll set [Music] up inside look knocked Away by Nas Hillman and a big reason why she gets the minutes Maya Caldwell also a score for Atlanta with the triple in her first bucket really good catch and shoot I thought Caldwell played valuable minutes against Phoenix she had to come in with Atlanta have some foul trouble guard the perimeter for the Phoenix Mercury which is not easy she did well gray stretched out in and out but knocked Away by n Stillman so they'll be able to set up on the defensive end but that's a look gray once and nice job Hena to push it going the other way Clark missed one around the rim and they pushed it right back down their throats Melissa Smith is at the score table to check in at the next dead ball seven-point lead for [Applause] Indiana can see the attention that Aaliyah Boston is getting on the inside but that opens it up for deire Dantes you see why she's been granted more minutes and Jordan Canada will step up to the free throw line for her third time tonight ween court side to tap well guys just a huddle report from Tanisha right defensively she talked about her team doing their work early she said defensively we got to bring help and dig we can't wait until they get the ball inside specifically Leah Boston she said we've got to do our work early and make it tougher for them and then offensively she talked about her team settling down and finding the right shots moving the ball side to side and getting the O boards and finishing plays guys yeah I agreee with all those things and in particular on the defense of end I mentioned it earlier because Indiana can be a very potent three-point shooting team you can't be afraid to dig and help on the inside because no matter what it's always going to be a higher percentage shot in the paint and then the communication that comes with that as well knowing when and where to dig what the assignment is and they were tested in backto Back Games a different look as far as the caliber of the center for Britney grinder but Aaliyah Boston one of those players that you have to keep out of the paint early Mitchell pulls up money she snakes the screen as well as anyone in this league you see how tight she came off of that screening action leaving no space for Jordan Canada to catch her Dina rolls that one in and now she's a double figure so the big have taken over for this game but Atlanta's got to get some stops they've been able to go to Tina and get some scoring here in the second quarter but they got to play defense Ali gr the best defenders perimeter Defenders for Atlanta with the assignment of Caitlyn Clark as Melissa Smith front rims it yeah a good contest by Charles Doran didn't like the look so she'll reset things the big reason why we say this does look different as far as the pace for Atlanta dor Canada really finding when and where to attack for the dream so it will be Indiana's ball with Aaliyah Boston held up at the scores table Ryan Howard will check in for Atlanta this is the last game of the five-game home stand for Atlanta before they hit the road been able to go three and one so far on this home stand Kelsea MIT again wow and they're going to say she got fouled on the jump shot Angel yes take a look here Jordan Canada deing her up I didn't see any contact we our camera left with the shot there but I mean I did from every angle I saw didn't see that contact Kelsey Mitchell has been Elite in this second quarter as they have their biggest lead of the ball game and now she is leading all scores with 13 and the big thing for her is just the recognition she get she said I've always been an underdog in this league but really playing for her dad who passed she played for him at Ohio State so Mark Mitchell as Alex a gray gets fouled at The Rim Kelsey Mitchell just players that don't often get to share their story that has given so much to this game yeah you would see Kelsey and her dad together all the time he was her biggest fan so many of us met him in the gym and his love for the game of basketball particular women's basketball he coached the game just a tremendous loss but especially for Kelsey who I'm sure feels like she lost her best friend yep and her twin sister and now a word from Stuart Miller Simmons trial attorneys at Stuart Miller Simmons our goal is to I mean I'm convinced come on Chris Stewart I might have some things I need settled on okay [Applause] Alisa gray lines it up bottom of the net Atlanta shooting 35% from the field in the second quarter alone Indiana shot 71% Mitchell there's a zone that you see players and then there's K Kelsey M yeah and that was a contest but again the elevation on her jump shot and the confidence in that shot right now in this season no one's getting to her you got to keep get to her early Tina Charles able to respond with the bucket she now has 12 three rebounds to add as [Music] well so an offensive foul will go against Nelissa Smith and Tina Charles has been the answer in this second quarter 12.3 rebounds she accounts for 66% of their points in this quarter and Counting career where she scored in single digits and we're seeing that after the Olympic break oh man I'm just so happy for Kelsey Mitchell a player that has been putting in the work for a very long time Miss layup there by Nas Hillman but she's a two-time Allstar and that's one of the best storylines about the fever season as because the fever is in the playoff picture for the first time in a long time Kelsey is getting the shine she deserves fever looking to tie first time since 2016 and then the season 17 and 17 and so you think about how they've been able to improve a couple of number one overall draft picks don't don't hurt you as well turnover for Atlanta less than two minutes to play and Smith out front a couple missed opportunities for Atlanta and the fever making them pay Nelissa Smith has had a nice first half it's only the fourth turnover for Atlanta they've given it points off of them though Five Points for Indiana Ryan Howard relocating triple back iron but good offense and good awareness by Tina Charles getting Ryan Howard a wide open shot and wide open is Caitlyn Clark but she can't knock it down from up top tries it again from a different spot that will connect and The Crowd Goes Crazy we don't have a final count of the amount of people in this Arena the you will home in for Atlanta is at the Gateway Center Arena once again relocating for this Indiana game the first game they had 17575 people in attendance Jordan Canada with three on the shot clock Ray dagger Lanta needed that going into the half now down 12 but Smith on the other end couldn't get that one to fall knocked out of bounds so it will go to Atlanta Bo one thing Tanisha R's going to have to address at the half is how do we beat them back down the court I mean something that I talk about about when thinking about this Indiana Fever team is their youth is on their side when you think look at their lineup and the number of first second third year players they have and those fresh young legs and how they just run with so much great pace and they're in shape Pina Charles off the deck yeah Tina Charles heard me say young legs and say watch this okay look at my first half numbers 35 years old still doing [Applause] it 10 on the game clock Caitlyn Clark looking for space on the inside trying to play bully ball against dur in Canada can't but Aaliyah Boston able to play clean up with 1.9 left on the game clock and that will do it for the first half