INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — Caitlin Clark scored 45 points, grabbed two rebounds and dished 10 assists to lead the Indiana Fever past the Seattle Storm 110-107 on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The win lifted Indiana to 15-10; Seattle fell to 6-21. Indiana surged to a 37-26 lead after the first quarter, fueled by Kelsey Mitchell’s 30 points. Seattle chipped away, outscoring the Fever 30-22 in the second to cut the deficit to 59-56 at halftime. The Storm took control in the third, scoring 32 points to Indiana’s 23 and carrying an 88-82 edge into the fourth. Seattle extended its lead to 96-88 midway through the final period, but Clark sparked a Fever rally. She hit a 32-foot 3-pointer to pull within one, then buried a 25-foot step-back trey with 39.1 seconds left for a 105-102 lead. Dominique Malonga answered with a layup, but Clark sealed the game at the free-throw line. Malonga finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds for Seattle. Awa Fam added 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Monique Billings contributed 16 points and five rebounds for Indiana. Attendance was 17,274.

INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — Caitlin Clark scored 45 points and dished out 10 assists, leading the Indiana Fever to a 110-107 victory over the Seattle Storm on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Clark, who entered the game averaging modest numbers in recent outings, erupted for her highest-scoring performance of the season. The 6-foot guard shot 10 of 16 from the field, including 5 of 9 from three-point range, and converted 20 of 22 free throws. She added two rebounds and two blocks in 29 minutes. Indiana improved to 15-10, while Seattle fell to 6-21. The Fever overcame a 22-point deficit that Seattle built early in the fourth quarter, using a 28-19 edge in the final period to complete the comeback. Seattle started strong, taking a 26-37 deficit after the first quarter and trimming it to 56-59 at halftime. The Storm then outscored Indiana 32-23 in the third quarter to take an 88-82 lead into the fourth. But Indiana stormed back behind Clark’s relentless scoring and key contributions from Kelsey Mitchell, who scored 30 points, and Monique Billings, who had 16 points and five rebounds. The game’s decisive sequence unfolded in the final minute. With the score tied at 102, Clark drained a 25-foot step-back three-pointer with 39.1 seconds remaining to give Indiana a 105-102 lead. After a Seattle timeout, Dominique Malonga missed a layup, and Flau’jae Johnson grabbed the offensive rebound. Billings fouled Johnson, but the possession ended with a missed free throw by Natisha Hiedeman with 27.6 seconds left. Billings then made one of two free throws to push Indiana’s lead to 106-103. Seattle responded with a Malonga driving layup with 19.2 seconds remaining, tying the game at 105. But Clark immediately drew a foul and made both free throws with 17.1 seconds left, giving Indiana a 107-105 lead. Seattle’s Malonga scored again on a layup with 5.1 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to 108-107. But Clark was fouled again, and she calmly sank both free throws with 3.5 seconds left, sealing the victory at 110-107. Hiedeman’s desperation three-pointer at the buzzer missed. Malonga led Seattle with 28 points and 14 rebounds. Awa Fam added 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Flau’jae Johnson scored 16 points with six rebounds and six assists. Natisha Hiedeman contributed 15 points and eight assists. Jade Melbourne had 15 points and five assists. For Indiana, Mitchell shot 11 of 21 from the field and added one rebound. Billings shot 6 of 8 from the floor and made 4 of 6 free throws. Makayla Timpson had eight points and nine rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell also contributed heavily in the first half, scoring 17 of her 30 points before halftime. The Fever’s victory avenged a 78-89 loss to Seattle on May 17 in Indianapolis. That game was the only previous meeting between the two teams this season. Seattle’s loss extended its recent struggles. The Storm had lost four of their previous five games entering Friday, including a 90-95 defeat at Chicago on July 15. Indiana, meanwhile, had split its last two games, falling to Golden State on July 15 before beating Las Vegas on July 12. The game featured 12 lead changes and eight ties. Seattle’s largest lead was eight points, at 96-88 in the fourth quarter. Indiana’s largest lead was 20 points, at 49-29 in the second quarter. Clark’s performance was a stark turnaround from her previous outings. She had scored only 13 points against Golden State on July 15, 12 points against Las Vegas on July 12 and nine points against Los Angeles on July 8. The Fever shot 42 of 80 from the field, 9 of 23 from three-point range and 17 of 22 from the free throw line. Seattle shot 43 of 88 from the floor, 7 of 22 from beyond the arc and 14 of 20 from the stripe. Attendance was announced at 17,274. Indiana next hosts New York on Saturday. Seattle travels to face Minnesota on Monday. Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Indiana Fever 93, Seattle Storm 83. Interstat’s ELO system gave Indiana an 88.90 percent probability to win. Indiana was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 8.5. The total score of 217 went under the over/under line of 174.5.

WNBA: Storm at Fever Preview INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Seattle Storm visit the Indiana Fever on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with the host Fever looking to continue their strong season and the Storm trying to snap out of a prolonged slump. Indiana (14-9) enters the game on a three-game winning streak, including a lopsided 109-75 victory at Las Vegas on Sunday. The Fever have won six of their last eight contests and sit comfortably in playoff position. Seattle (6-19) has lost eight of its last 10 games, with its most recent defeat a 84-79 setback at Washington on Sunday. The teams met May 17 in Indianapolis, with Indiana claiming an 89-78 victory. Players to Watch For Seattle, guard Natisha Hiedeman has been the offensive catalyst despite the team’s struggles. Over her last nine games, Hiedeman has averaged 18.4 points and 4.4 assists while logging heavy minutes. She scored a season-high 31 points in the loss to Washington on Sunday, adding three rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes. Hiedeman has scored at least 20 points in four of her last five outings, including 20 points against Atlanta on July 9 and 15 points in a win over Los Angeles on July 6. For Indiana, center Aliyah Boston has been a dominant force. The former overall pick posted 19 points and 11 rebounds in Sunday’s win over Las Vegas, her fourth double-double in her last six games. Boston has scored at least 17 points in four of her last five contests and is averaging 18.4 points and 9.3 rebounds over that stretch. Her presence in the paint has been a key factor in Indiana’s success. Team Trends Seattle’s offense has been inconsistent, averaging 78.2 points over its last five games. The Storm have struggled on the road, where they are 3-10 this season. Indiana has been effective at home, posting an 8-3 record at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Fever rank among the league leaders in scoring, averaging 87.1 points per game. Simulation Forecast Interstat’s game simulator projects a 93-83 victory for Indiana. Upcoming Schedules Seattle returns home for a three-game series against Minnesota starting Monday. Indiana hosts New York on Saturday before a two-game set against Connecticut next week. The teams will meet again in Seattle on July 26-28.