INDIANAPOLIS — Rookie star Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever upset the second-ranked Connecticut Sun 84-80 on Wednesday night to improve to 15-16, and there were some big names in the crowd.
Clark finished with 19 points, five assists and five rebounds. She and the Fever have been playing well lately and are on pace to reach .500 for the first time this season. And Clark did it in front of tens of thousands of fans.
Several of them were notable. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and Olympic sprinter Gabby Thomas were in a suite together to watch the game, and it was Biles’ first-ever WNBA game. The two gold medalists met with the Fever team after the game.
The team was thrilled to meet Simone Biles and Gabby Thomas after our win at @GainbridgeFH.
the reactions 😂🙌 pic.twitter.com/KydNhGsoeo
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 29, 2024
Indiana-born TV host and comedian David Letterman was also on the court. He sat next to former Iowa women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder, and Letterman was visible on the jumbotron as the action began. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson was also in the crowd for the victory.
It was one of the Fever’s best wins of the season. They hadn’t beaten Connecticut since 2021, but they found a way to do it Wednesday. All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell was on fire again and finished with 23 points. Forward Lexie Hull was also terrific and added 17 points.
“I think for me the maturity and tenacity that my players showed tonight was just incredible,” Fever head coach Christie Sides said after the game.
Many Indiana Pacers players have attended Fever games this season, and Tyrese Haliburton has participated in several. Recently, Forward Obi Toppin took his daughter to one.
Clark and the Fever next play Friday when they face Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky on the road.
