Indiana Fever Vs Chicago Sky #WNBA Live #Caitlinclark #angelreese

e have that ball there waiting for them pass to Mitchell and here samelson onion wday covering the shot by Boston no good outside to Shields an easy two points on the layup attacks contact with confidence the shields is pretty much always looking to one uper opponent well there's a lot of great athletic families in the WNBA but the the shields family is certainly up there well Diamond of course an Allstar and Champion her dad and brother both playing in the big leagues and her H just an allaman track star I mean incredible can you imagine those Backyard Basketball games in the the shields family now here's wheeler Samuelson Onan W covering just five to shoot another shot she clings that one off the back iron and it falls Chicago in the lead pass to Harrison now here's Onan w now May six on the shot clock Isabelle Harrison in the high post and off Target as she starts the game 0 for one Mitchell with [Applause] it rebound by the shields yeah remember that and that's not an opportunity she fails to convert very often her shot is good making her a perfect two for two from the floor more than happy to mix it up inside a physical big now here's Mitchell covered by the shields the shot by Mitchell no good here's onion W rebounded by the fever and terrific defense at The Rim got right path and you know they'll be worrying about her next time they take it inside too and really that's what great Defenders will do to you now here's Mitchell still getting warmed up offensively no buckets yet in the game for [Applause] her now here's onion W she's guarded by Boston step back shot the shot by onion W no good Indiana trailing here's Samson that one Falls coming off Kelsey Mitchell I like the assertiveness samelson known for her shooting she still can get by players who are worried about her range pass to the shields B three-pointer it's good and she makes her first shot of the game they can't afford to give her that kind of look well it came off a good screen but still as a defend you have to fight over the top of it and you need some help as well now here's wheeler now Smith it's ha in by Harrison yeah she'll be disappointed with herself that's one she expects to make here's onion it's in that's her third field goal of the game she's three for five good move to create a gap in the defense and get to the bucket for an easy two some tough offensive sets and they really want pass to Samuelson here's [Applause] Mitchell 13t out count that one Kelch there isn't a part of the court that Mitchell won't let it fly when she hits from the midrange it just increases the headache for the D pass to [Applause] ma to the paint Williams off to a good start as she hits her first shot well M has a pretty sharp passing game she won't let an open shot go to waste outside wheeler right wing to the middle best shot by Boston no good Chicago with the ball Sixpoint lead and the basket is good they've been the hotter team in the first half so far guys well they've been grinding working for those high percentage shots and it's been paying off for them and let's see if this success continues to go as we get longer into this game here's Samson rebound Marina Ma here's Chicago now pass onu now here's Williams she's guarded by Boston uses the glass total control and as well as they're playing at both ends I'd look for this lead to get even bigger absolutely now a timeout called by Indiana well we normally don't play favorites here but I'll let you guys play them just this once do you have a favorite player to watch I absolutely do and it's Sabrina yancu not just because she's from my hometown Walnut Creek she has total command of the game she's a triple double machine plus Sabrina always plays the game with Incredible flare I mean who doesn't like watching getu play I really enjoy another point guard Skyler diing Smith a little older than Sabrina Skyler has that pure point game as well as the ability to score a lethal combination [Applause] was your you some so it's Indiana now it's a 10-point game pass to Saxton hle defended by Carter and here is [Applause] Wallace poked [Applause] away here's M that falls nice speed that time from Dan Evans they couldn't have dreamed a much better start they've had here tonight yeah they came in with a tremendous offensive game plan it's worked perfectly and what a lead they already have to show for it and you got to give credit to this coaching staff as well they came into this game compared perfect Chicago with the ball leading by 12 with the bucket they've come into this game with a very aggressive approach pounding the ball inside and it's working yeah it sure is working Tim and they're finding the open lanes to the hoop and just owning this game early on what a start here's Saxman quiet so far offensively searching for first points of the game pass to burer looking to end the it's hauled in by Harrison and here's ma laid in with a nice the glass and their lead gets even more enormous they play terrific basketball at both ends no doubt about it I certainly can't think of an area where they've under perform and neither can I timeout called the fever they'd seen enough scoring in the pain and wanted to send a message to their team lock things up inside yeah you're right Tim I guarantee you this talk centers around cutting down on all those points coming against them in the pain and maybe it's more help it's the front of player they've got to try something [Applause] for [Applause] [Music] each trip down becoming more important yeah they need to string together some successful offensive possessions and play tough deep burger no [Applause] good to the inside here's Carter Second Chance shot and the rebound goes to the fever there was not a ton of congestion in the lane and she could have done better for sure now here's Wallace defense right on her over Evans Indiana again missing necessarily a strong interior presence but she's got to finish those chances when she has them it's two seconds separating the shot clock and the game clock pass to Boston the rebound by Evans here's Allen and it would have counted had it Fallen but it's offline and after just one quarter of play a double digit differential on the scoreboard and we'll be back in just a minute with the start of the second quarter a lopsided first quarter and for the sky here they've been putting on a show for us defense paying dividends for them through one coach has to be happy about their effort on that end just a lot of hustle and it's the Skyball 16-point lead the largest margin of the game so she gets the whistle contact on the way up two shots next fou team first well of course there are different ways to build a roster guys but if you were in that position how would you go about it you start with this we're in a salary cap lead so with that in mind hitting on draft picks is the easiest way especially those non first round picks they can give you a huge leg up yeah I mean those rookie scale contracts are so valuable all throw in being smart with the salary cap having the ability to add Talent via free agency where you know in that situation you don't have to give any anything up the first free throw is good both shots good from the [Applause] strike here's wheeler Mitchell outside takes the three good on the triple the alltime division one leader in threes made Mitchell is at home Beyond The Arc loves firing from this ring pass to Harrison onu to Shields with it clock at six the three the shot by onion W no good Mitchell right side that ball is in the bask now shot six and made three and that's pretty much an unguardable move from Mitchell so skilled and composed with the ball in her hands pass onu and it's going to be two free throws Drew contact on the shot first and it's going to be on Nelissa Smith selected six overall in 2021a is a strong Wing the type of player really every team wants first trip to the line for her here shooting two and the first one drops that one misses and here's Indiana they Trail by 14 pass to Boston the basket good off the assist from Erica wheeler have to admire just how selfless Erica wheeler is she loves finding her teammates in their sweet spots here's Allen misses off the right iron the D did a good job of clogging the middle when she got inside outside wheeler down low Smith Nails B hook this speaks to how assertive Smith is outstanding job scoring on the defense Allen with it outside to Shields e Sky playing host of the Washington Mystics as the Chicago Sky just looking to find some playoff positioning early on it's the rookies connecting Angel Reese over to Camilo cardoso down low cardoso dishes to a cutting Michaela onion wedy for two later it's the mystics Emily angler going right the rim rips off glass draws foul makes the free throw the mystics moving the ball Shori Walker Kim dishing it TOA con and that's a bucket later inler kicks it to Ariel Atkins on the wing she knocks down a three-pointer Washington up by nine but this guy fight to stay in the game on drives with her left spins finishes with the right then Lindsay Allen Works her way inside for the and one opportunity she would make the free throw but Washington still up by eight after she hit that free throw Allen again this time with the crossover move into the jumper makes it plus the foul at the half Washington's lead was down to five third quarter Angel Reese over to onion wed in the corner for three and that's an effective pass an effective catch an effective shot then cardoso muscles her way on the Baseline for the layup and the foul to give Chicago the lead she'd make the free throw she had a double double in the game cardoso comes from the help side to swat the inler shot attempt for her third block of the night as well later Dana Evans speeds down the lane hangs and hits the runner off glass Chicago by four now Evans splashing in a triple from way outside and look at the sky doing well but here come the mystics again late fourth quarter a Lin drives Defender little scoop layup goes down then Aaliyah Edwards forces the turnover takes it all the way for the two and the lead the mystics hang on to defeat the crucial loss for Chicago you fin scor this one Washington 74 Chicago 7 that's right your favorite WNBA podcast is back is in session you couldn't write it and plan it any better no the script is scripting from Big guests to Big moments my mouth was on Theo oh my go Jord and Cheryl Have you covered it's basketball it's basketball catch new episodes of queens of the Court every Tuesday available now on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast downtown Chicago is the place to be on this Friday night on ION two record setting rookies take Center Stage Angel Reese in the house and ready to rebound fitting that she's got the Dennis Rodman Jersey on tonight the rebounding Focus against Caitlyn Clark and the Indiana Fever playing some of the best basketball in the WNBA post Olympic break the State Farm WNBA Friday night Spotlight on ION is presented by State Farm like a good neighbor State Farm is there the place to be downtown Chicago South Loop to be exact and wi trust Arena the home to the Chicago sky for the fourth and final meeting between the fever and the sky the fever ahead of the series two games to one coming into tonight we welcome you into a sold out Wind Trust Arena shimmy Miller Lisa bson Mary Freeman on the sideline for us and shimmy boy you know these two teams have made the I65 series interesting again a large part because of the rookies Caitlyn and Angel well we know that that's why all these people are here to see these two they have a longstanding rivalry we all know about it it predates their time in the WNBA these two rookies are leading the WNBA in different statistical categories Caitlyn Reese in assists angel in rebounds but tonight they don't care about individual statistics they only care about one thing and that is winning that's right and so we look at the teams and the the starting lineups there's some changes Kennedy Carter the biggest scratch here for tonight in health and safety protocols and so it'll be Rachel banam in the starting lineup once again for the Chicago Sky Lexi Hall has been fantastic really in the last 10 games for the Indiana Fever and she once again gets the start it's the third start for her here this season Caitlyn Clark Angel Rees squaring off certainly the headline certainly one of the reasons we know that the eyeballs here are watching tonight Angel Reese has gotten the edge in the college match up a 4 inone record against Caitlyn and Caitlyn Clark the two and one record here so far in their short rookie careers in the WNBA more importantly though shimmy to your point the team records Indiana Fever come in in seventh place in the WNBA the Chicago Sky hanging on to eighth place remember it's the top eight that make the playoffs and Advance into the postseason Angelica suffrin Tiara Cruz and aana Bazi are your officials here tonight Indiana Fever arguably playing and statistically playing some of the best basketball since the break and that is one of the players that's playing some of the best basketball too Kelsey Mitchell with the first bucket and it's fitting that Kelsey Mitchell would have the first bucket she's been on a tear since the Olympic break actually averaging 25 points a gain during that time ly Allen has been great as well for the Chicago sky in the last couple of games has really taken upon her shoulders to be more aggressive offensively two offensive possessions two buckets for the fever both these teams play Fast fever plays one of the fastest teams in transition in this league and Chicago they're trying to find their footing they're trying to get back to flowing and playing in Freedom cardoso drafted third overall for the Chicago sky here this year out of South Carolina all the points have come in the paint here for both of these teams Caitlin Clark's first shot Off the Mark Angel Reeves penetrating and tosses it away turnovers have been a problem the lied 23 turnovers on Wednesday in a loss to Washington Melissa Smith trying the contact and the foul well christe sides the head coach here for the Indiana Fever also a longtime assistant coach for the Chicago sky but in year number two in the head chair for the fever and she has had to navigate a season really at the beginning of the year this Indiana Fever team played 11 games in about 20 days very little practice time now things have slowed down a little bit obviously with the Olympic break the allstar break this team and the players had some time to breathe to work on their game and and you can see the the growth with the team as a whole is much much better at least I got a chance to catch up with general manager Lyn Dunn and we talked about that that start that tet start that Indiana had the the scheduling gods did them no favor but she actually credit the success that they're having right now to that rough start because it didn't break them they were able to overcome they were able to learn they were able to grow and she feels like that's why they were able to beat Connecticut the other night post up for Angel Reese and a foul call against Nelissa Smith that is her first now Teresa Weatherspoon on the flip side in her first year as the sky head coach the last three games have come down to the final two minutes have come down to the final few possessions to the aces Washington Connecticut all three losses here for this guy Mela on has inserted herself or has been inserted into the starting lineup since the marina May trade and she has stepped up her game in that opportunity Caitlyn Clark for three rattles it around for her first deep shot well it's the scouting report on Caitlyn and at this point everyone should know you can't go underneath screams against Caitlyn Clark and I know Michaela just got twisted around a little bit but that cannot happen or it's going to be a long night Kaitlyn Clark If you ask her she'd like to be more efficient shooting the three ball Michaela did a great job of picking Caitlyn Clark up early but she just went under that drag screen by aiyah Boston and that's why drag screens are so deadly and and just so important because it's hard to defend a drag screen you don't know when they're coming in transition yeah and that is something between those two players they've gotten much better at really kind of this second half of the Season pocket pass for cardoso can't put it away I know camil cardoso wasn't able to convert on that but I love this that's two ball screens where you're hitting the roller that Chicago has used already ready early in this game