Caitlin Clark returns after FIBA title as Kelsey Mitchell sets WNBA scoring mark in Fever victory over Tempo
Kelsey Mitchell’s 33‑point night propels Fever into first place in East
Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell scored 33 points in a 103‑85 win over the Toronto Tempo on Friday, giving the league’s top scorer a new single‑season record and moving the Fever to a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Mitchell, who is chasing the record for most points in a single WNBA season, finished the game 12‑for‑17 from the floor and 7‑for‑11 from beyond the arc. Her 33 points pushed her season total to 1,034, eclipsing the previous mark of 1,021 points set by Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson in 2024. Mitchell’s 25th consecutive game with at least 20 points extends her own WNBA record for long‑term scoring consistency.
Indiana’s 103‑point effort was helped by the 28 points and 14 assists from teammate Caitlin Clark. Clark, who had 12 consecutive free‑throw attempts in a 14‑double‑double night, also hit 2‑for‑8 from three‑point range. The Fever’s 8‑th win of 10 games underscored the depth of their roster.
The Tempo, in their first game after the nearly three‑week World Cup hiatus, were unable to find a rhythm. Laura Juskaite led the club with 22 points, while Kiki Rice added 18. Isabelle Harrison and Temi Fagbenle each scored 16. Toronto’s 9‑9 start to the season has since devolved into a 2‑21 run, and the loss marked a fifth straight defeat.
The Fever also benefitted from the absence of Toronto’s veteran guard Marina Mabrey, who is sidelined for the final four games of the season with a right adductor injury. The Tempo will face the New York Liberty in their next outing, while the Fever return to the court at home to take on the Washington Mystics Sunday.
With the win, Indiana has secured a playoff spot. The result also tied them with the Atlanta Dream for first place in the East, setting the stage for a high‑stakes finish to the regular season. Toronto, meanwhile, has already been eliminated from postseason contention.
As the Fever continue their surge, the league watches to see whether Mitchell can finish the season on top of the points leaderboard, and whether the Tempo can rebound after a rocky stretch that has left them in last place in the Eastern Conference.