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Debate

Did DiJonai Carrington's performance overshadow Caitlin Clark's big night? What do you think?

Ever since the Fever returned from the Olympics break, they’ve been unstoppable. In five games played, the Fever’s impressive roster has secured 4 wins. But the standout among them all remains the team’s recent game. On August 28th, the Indiana Fever faced off against the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Staying true to their pace, the Fever and Caitlin Clark dominated right from the beginning. But it all seemed to shatter as the game approached its climax.

DiJonai Carrington, the Connecticut Sun’s leading scorer, left no stone unturned in trying to snatch a win from Caitlin Clark and the Fever. She scored an impressive 19 points to help the Sun reach 80 points. For her, it wasn’t something new; she had already been dominant over the Fever in their last three meetings. The Sun stood at 22-8 against the Fever, who had a 15-16 record. But Carrington’s efforts went in vain, thanks to Kelsey Mitchell.

 

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The veteran guard’s performance also helped rookie star Caitlin Clark end the evening on a good note, having just surpassed Rhyne Howard’s three-point record. Mitchell scored 23 points, going 4 for 7 from beyond the arc. In the process, she recorded the most consecutive 20-point games in the Fever’s history — 5; every game since the Olympic break.

Carrington’s elite defensive performance, translating to 6 steals was heavy on the team, and the rookie, who was forced into seven turnovers. But a minute and a half left on the clock, Fever snatched back the lead.

In the first quarter alone, Indiana scored 33 points, led by Mitchell with seven. Though the game went back and forth from then on, they tied 80-80 over 2 minutes left in the game. Then, with Clark’s 3-foot 2-pointer, the Fever took the lead and sealed the win with Lexie Hull’s 1 of 2 freethrows.

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The team then went on to finish with 13 of 30 from 3-point range and 31 of 66 field goals for 84 points. This is just a glimpse of the Fever’s success these days.

What’s your perspective on:

Did DiJonai Carrington's performance overshadow Caitlin Clark's big night? What do you think?

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Fever’s trajectory is on its rise

As of now, the Fever are ranked seventh place in the league with a 15-16 record. They have solidified their position in the playoffs. But what they did unknowingly in the process was to garner attention from across the globe. Apart from league-leading attendance, in a recent big turnout for the team, Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles and Gabby Thomas were urged to become part of the  17,274 audience.

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Well, they weren’t really alone. They were accompanied by Indianapolis native and entertainment icon David Letterman and Colts QB Anthony Richardson. Ever since Caitlin Clark’s arrival on the team, the Indiana Fever have exceeded the WNBA’s high expectations. The team has witnessed record-breaking ratings, consistent sellout arenas, and impressive merchandise sales.

Above all this, the team has become the league leader in social media interactions per post, with an impressive 159% year-over-year increase. Most of its growth comes from TikTok, where interactions have surged by 306%. Garnering attention from the sports world is just a repercussion of that. Well, the goal is still a hard call for the Fever. What do you think? Will they be able to claim a championship win?

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