Washington closes out season with 92-91 win over Indiana as Clark, Fever attract record crowd
WASHINGTON (AP) Sika Kone scored a career-high 20 points and the Washington Mystics pulled out a 92-91 win over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Thursday night before a record crowd of 20,711, the largest in WNBA history.
The Mystics (14-26), who led by 16 points entering the fourth quarter, began the regular season finale with a shot at the final playoff spot but that hope ended when the Atlanta Dream (15-25) won at New York to secure the No. 8 seed.
Ariel Atkins and Emily Engstler scored 17 points apiece for Washington while Brittney Sykes and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough both contributed 12.
Indiana (20-20) had already locked up the No. 6 seed and pulled its starters midway through the second half. Clark, the record-setting rookie, had eight points, eight assists and five rebounds in 20 minutes while Kelsey Mitchell had four points and was pulled after only five minutes. For Clark, it was her first time being held under double figures in scoring since June 13
Kristy Wallace led the Fever, who will face No. 3 seed Connecticut in a three-game series beginning Sunday, with 17 points. NaLyssa Smith had 16 points and Aliyah Boston and Katie Lou Samuelson both had 10.
The record attendance was made possible by the game being played at Capital One Arena, which is not the Mystics’ usual home. Washington plays at Entertainment & Sports Arena, which has a capacity of 4,200.
Washington went just 3 of 15 in the fourth quarter, but Indiana, with mostly reserves on the floor, missed three shots in the last minute after Wallace scored to make it 92-91 with 1:13 to play.
Samuelson missed with 7.7 seconds remaining and Grace Berger grabbed the offensive rebound but missed a short jumper at the buzzer.
The Fever jumped out to a 20-2 lead to start the game as Washington missed its first 10 shots. A three-point play from Kone at the 4:29 mark ended that run and Indiana’s lead was down to 24-22 by the time the quarter came to a close.
By halftime, the Mystics were on top 52-45 as they shot 60% from the field in the second quarter.
Washington started the second half with a 12-4 run and extended the advantage to 82-66 through three quarters.
Although the Fever had clinched a playoff spot two weeks earlier, Mitchell played in her 233rd regular-season game before playing in a playoff game, tying Jia Perkins, who did that before getting into a 2011 playoff game.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 |  | Start of the 1st Quarter | ||
| 10:00 | | Jump Ball: Stefanie Dolson vs. Aliyah Boston. | ||
| 9:54 |  | +2 | NaLyssa Smith makes a layup from 6 feet out. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 2-0 |
| 9:38 | | Julie Vanloo misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 9:38 | | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 9:14 | | Shooting foul committed by Emily Engstler. | ||
| 9:14 | | +1 | Aliyah Boston makes free throw 1 of 2. | 3-0 |
| 9:14 | | +1 | Aliyah Boston makes free throw 2 of 2. | 4-0 |
| 9:09 | | Aliyah Boston steals the ball from Stefanie Dolson. | ||
| 8:55 | | Caitlin Clark misses a layup. | ||
| 8:55 | | Mystics with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:37 | | Stefanie Dolson misses a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | ||
| 8:37 | | Aliyah Boston with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:25 | | Aliyah Boston misses a jump shot from 16 feet out. | ||
| 8:25 | | Stefanie Dolson with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:10 | | Stefanie Dolson misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 8:10 | | Emily Engstler with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 8:05 | | Stefanie Dolson misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 8:05 | | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:56 | | Shooting foul committed by Stefanie Dolson. | ||
| 7:56 | | +1 | NaLyssa Smith makes free throw 1 of 2. | 5-0 |
| 7:56 | | +1 | NaLyssa Smith makes free throw 2 of 2. | 6-0 |
| 7:48 | | Ariel Atkins misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 7:48 | | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:33 | | +2 | NaLyssa Smith makes a layup. | 8-0 |
| 7:16 | | Stefanie Dolson misses a jump shot from 7 feet out. | ||
| 7:16 | | Aliyah Boston with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:07 | | +3 | Caitlin Clark makes a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. | 11-0 |
| 6:56 | | Mystics take a full timeout. | ||
| 6:51 | | Shooting foul committed by Lexie Hull. | ||
| 6:51 | | +1 | Brittney Sykes makes free throw 1 of 2. | 11-1 |
| 6:51 | | +1 | Brittney Sykes makes free throw 2 of 2. | 11-2 |
| 6:41 | | +2 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a layup. Aliyah Boston with the assist. | 13-2 |
| 6:30 | | Brittney Sykes misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 6:30 | | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:20 | | +2 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 15-2 |
| 6:03 | | Emily Engstler misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | ||
| 6:03 | | Lexie Hull with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:40 | | +3 | Caitlin Clark makes a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. Kelsey Mitchell with the assist. | 18-2 |
| 5:29 | | Ariel Atkins misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 5:29 | | Brittney Sykes with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 5:24 | | Offensive foul committed by Brittney Sykes. | ||
| 5:24 | | Brittney Sykes with a turnover | ||
| 5:24 | | Substitution: Sika Kone in for Emily Engstler. | ||
| 5:24 | | Substitution: Karlie Samuelson in for Julie Vanloo. | ||
| 5:24 | | Substitution: Erica Wheeler in for Kelsey Mitchell. | ||
| 5:13 | | Offensive foul committed by Aliyah Boston. | ||
| 5:13 | | Aliyah Boston with a turnover | ||
| 5:02 | | Personal foul committed by Erica Wheeler. | ||
| 5:02 | | Substitution: Temi Fagbenle in for Aliyah Boston. | ||
| 4:56 | | Sika Kone misses a layup. | ||
| 4:56 | | Stefanie Dolson with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 4:51 | | NaLyssa Smith steals the ball from Stefanie Dolson. | ||
| 4:42 | | +2 | NaLyssa Smith makes a layup. Erica Wheeler with the assist. | 20-2 |
| 4:29 | | +2 | Sika Kone makes a layup. Brittney Sykes with the assist. | 20-4 |
| 4:29 | | Shooting foul committed by NaLyssa Smith. | ||
| 4:29 | | Substitution: Jade Melbourne in for Ariel Atkins. | ||
| 4:29 | | Substitution: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough in for Brittney Sykes. | ||
| 4:29 | | +1 | Sika Kone makes free throw 1 of 1. | 20-5 |
| 4:19 | | Jade Melbourne steals the ball from Temi Fagbenle. | ||
| 4:15 | | +2 | Jade Melbourne makes a layup. | 20-7 |
| 4:06 | | Caitlin Clark misses a 3-point jump shot from 31 feet out. | ||
| 4:06 | | Karlie Samuelson with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:56 | | Caitlin Clark steals the ball from Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. | ||
| 3:43 | | NaLyssa Smith misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | ||
| 3:43 | | Jade Melbourne with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:29 | | Karlie Samuelson misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 3:29 | | NaLyssa Smith with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:10 | | NaLyssa Smith misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | ||
| 3:10 | | Stefanie Dolson with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:59 | | Lexie Hull steals the ball from Jade Melbourne. | ||
| 2:54 | | Lexie Hull misses a layup. | ||
| 2:54 | | Karlie Samuelson with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:38 | | +3 | Sika Kone makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Jade Melbourne with the assist. | 20-10 |
| 2:20 | | +2 | Erica Wheeler makes a jump shot from 13 feet out. | 22-10 |
| 2:05 | | +2 | Shatori Walker-Kimbrough makes a jump shot from 21 feet out. Karlie Samuelson with the assist. | 22-12 |
| 1:49 | | Erica Wheeler misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 1:49 | | Sika Kone with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:35 | | Shooting foul committed by NaLyssa Smith. | ||
| 1:35 | | +1 | Sika Kone makes free throw 1 of 2. | 22-13 |
| 1:35 | | Substitution: Emily Engstler in for Stefanie Dolson. | ||
| 1:35 | | Substitution: Katie Lou Samuelson in for NaLyssa Smith. | ||
| 1:35 | | Substitution: Damiris Dantas in for Caitlin Clark. | ||
| 1:35 | | +1 | Sika Kone makes free throw 2 of 2. | 22-14 |
| 1:22 | | Personal foul committed by Emily Engstler. | ||
| 1:19 | | +2 | Erica Wheeler makes a layup. | 24-14 |
| 1:07 | | +3 | Shatori Walker-Kimbrough makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Emily Engstler with the assist. | 24-17 |
| 55.5 | | Damiris Dantas misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | ||
| 55.5 | | Emily Engstler with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 38.4 | | +2 | Jade Melbourne makes a layup. | 24-19 |
| 21.9 | | Lexie Hull with a turnover - Bad Pass | ||
| 04.5 | | +3 | Emily Engstler makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Karlie Samuelson with the assist. | 24-22 |
| 0.8 | | Erica Wheeler misses a 3-point jump shot from 46 feet out. | ||
| 0.8 | | Fever with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 0.0 | | End of the 1st Quarter |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | | Start of the 2nd Quarter | ||
| 9:51 | | +2 | Sika Kone makes a layup. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough with the assist. | 24-24 |
| 9:29 | | +2 | Aliyah Boston makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. Erica Wheeler with the assist. | 26-24 |
| 9:05 | | +2 | Emily Engstler makes a layup. Sika Kone with the assist. | 26-26 |
| 8:50 | | Katie Lou Samuelson misses a jump shot from 20 feet out. | ||
| 8:50 | | Emily Engstler with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:29 | | +2 | Shatori Walker-Kimbrough makes a layup. | 26-28 |
| 8:12 | | +3 | Damiris Dantas makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Aliyah Boston with the assist. | 29-28 |
| 7:50 | | Karlie Samuelson misses a 3-point jump shot from 31 feet out. | ||
| 7:50 | | Jade Melbourne with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:43 | | +3 | Emily Engstler makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Jade Melbourne with the assist. | 29-31 |
| 7:29 | | Erica Wheeler with a turnover - Bad Pass | ||
| 7:16 | | Emily Engstler misses a layup. | ||
| 7:16 | | Damiris Dantas with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:03 | | Damiris Dantas misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 7:03 | | Kristy Wallace with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 6:56 | | Shatori Walker-Kimbrough steals the ball from Kristy Wallace. | ||
| 6:49 | | Shatori Walker-Kimbrough misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 6:49 | | Kristy Wallace with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:30 | | Personal foul committed by Jade Melbourne. | ||
| 6:30 | | Substitution: Caitlin Clark in for Erica Wheeler. | ||
| 6:26 | | Damiris Dantas misses a jump shot from 13 feet out. | ||
| 6:26 | | Emily Engstler with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:17 | | +3 | Shatori Walker-Kimbrough makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Karlie Samuelson with the assist. | 29-34 |
| 6:05 | | +2 | Aliyah Boston makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 31-34 |
| 5:44 | | Personal foul committed by Damiris Dantas. | ||
| 5:44 | | Official TV timeout. | ||
| 5:44 | | Substitution: Ariel Atkins in for Emily Engstler. | ||
| 5:37 | | Shatori Walker-Kimbrough misses a jump shot from 22 feet out. | ||
| 5:37 | | Sika Kone with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 5:28 | | Jade Melbourne misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 5:28 | | Damiris Dantas with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:07 | | Personal foul committed by Ariel Atkins. | ||
| 4:51 | | Katie Lou Samuelson misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | ||
| 4:51 | | Fever with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 4:51 | | Fever with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | ||
| 4:51 | | Substitution: Stefanie Dolson in for Sika Kone. | ||
| 4:51 | | Substitution: Brittney Sykes in for Jade Melbourne. | ||
| 4:46 | | Offensive foul committed by Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. | ||
| 4:46 | | Shatori Walker-Kimbrough with a turnover | ||
| 4:46 | | Substitution: Lexie Hull in for Damiris Dantas. | ||
| 4:46 | | Substitution: NaLyssa Smith in for Katie Lou Samuelson. | ||
| 4:30 | | Shooting foul committed by Stefanie Dolson. | ||
| 4:30 | | +1 | NaLyssa Smith makes free throw 1 of 2. | 32-34 |
| 4:30 | | NaLyssa Smith misses free throw 2 of 2. | ||
| 4:30 | | Stefanie Dolson with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:21 | | +2 | Karlie Samuelson makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough with the assist. | 32-36 |
| 3:59 | | +3 | Kristy Wallace makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Aliyah Boston with the assist. | 35-36 |
| 3:43 | | +3 | Ariel Atkins makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Stefanie Dolson with the assist. | 35-39 |
| 3:31 | | +2 | Aliyah Boston makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 37-39 |
| 3:18 | | Lexie Hull steals the ball from Ariel Atkins. | ||
| 3:03 | | Personal foul committed by Ariel Atkins. | ||
| 3:03 | | Substitution: Emily Engstler in for Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. | ||
| 3:03 | | Substitution: Julie Vanloo in for Karlie Samuelson. | ||
| 3:02 | | Caitlin Clark with a turnover - Out of Bounds | ||
| 2:50 | | Brittney Sykes misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | ||
| 2:50 | | NaLyssa Smith with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:26 | | +2 | Kristy Wallace makes a jump shot from 4 feet out. | 39-39 |
| 2:15 | | +2 | Brittney Sykes makes a layup. | 39-41 |
| 2:15 | | Shooting foul committed by Aliyah Boston. | ||
| 2:15 | | Fever take a full timeout. | ||
| 2:15 | | Substitution: Temi Fagbenle in for Aliyah Boston. | ||
| 2:15 | | +1 | Brittney Sykes makes free throw 1 of 1. | 39-42 |
| 2:02 | | Personal foul committed by Julie Vanloo. | ||
| 2:02 | | +1 | Kristy Wallace makes free throw 1 of 2. | 40-42 |
| 2:02 | | +1 | Kristy Wallace makes free throw 2 of 2. | 41-42 |
| 1:54 | | +3 | Ariel Atkins makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Emily Engstler with the assist. | 41-45 |
| 1:36 | | +2 | NaLyssa Smith makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 43-45 |
| 1:20 | | Brittney Sykes misses a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | ||
| 1:20 | | Stefanie Dolson with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 1:14 | | +2 | Stefanie Dolson makes a layup. | 43-47 |
| 1:07 | | Ariel Atkins steals the ball from Temi Fagbenle. | ||
| 1:02 | | +2 | Ariel Atkins makes a jump shot from 5 feet out. | 43-49 |
| 58.4 | | Personal foul committed by Julie Vanloo. | ||
| 58.4 | | +1 | Caitlin Clark makes free throw 1 of 2. | 44-49 |
| 58.4 | | +1 | Caitlin Clark makes free throw 2 of 2. | 45-49 |
| 49.5 | | +3 | Ariel Atkins makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Julie Vanloo with the assist. | 45-52 |
| 41.2 | | Caitlin Clark misses a jump shot from 22 feet out. | ||
| 41.2 | | Brittney Sykes with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 21.5 | | Ariel Atkins misses a jump shot from 8 feet out. | ||
| 21.5 | | NaLyssa Smith with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 03.4 | | Lexie Hull misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 03.4 | | Fever with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 0.0 | | End of the 2nd Quarter |