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The dynamic Indiana Fever duo of Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark reminded everyone why they each went No. 1 overall on Thursday.
Fever's quest to become the first-ever repeat WNBA Commissioner's Cup champions almost hit a snag against the Chicago Sky on Thursday night. The Fever led by as many as 19 points in the second quarter, but the Sky stormed back to make it a tightly contested game in the second half.
An unlucky Kelsey Mitchell turnover with five seconds remaining in regulation allowed for Skylar Diggins to drain a three and tie it for the Sky to force overtime. The Fever prevailed in overtime, 114-106. Fever All-Star forward/center Aliyah Boston and All-Star guard Caitlin Clark led the way. Boston posted 34 points on 13-for-26 shooting, 12 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks, while Clark put up 32 points on 8-for-18 shooting, 10 assists, and seven rebounds.
, Boston and Clark are the first teammates in league history to each record a 30-point double-double in the same game..
"That always helps. Like, yeah, you can be teammates and play basketball, but if you really care for each other and love each other off the court — and I think that goes for our whole team — when you have that bond and truly get to know somebody and build a relationship with them, that helps.
" Clark continued,"When you're on the court, you're gonna go through moments of adversity. That's just basketball, and that's what helps to get you through, but also I feel like I always know where Aliyah is. I think we've got a little telepathy know, so, hopefully, we can get that going more, too.
" The Fever selected Boston out of South Carolina with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft. After her iconic Iowa career concluded, Clark followed Boston to Indiana as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Teams pairing back-to-back No. 1 overall picks has fared well in recent WNBA history.
The Seattle Storm drafted Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart at No. 1 overall in 2015 and '16, respectively, and they won two championships to Seattle in 2018 and 2020. The Las Vegas Aces drafted A'ja Wilson and Jackie Young at No. 1 in 2018 and '19, respectively, and the Aces have won three of the past four WNBA titles.
Boston and Clark are trying to replicate that formula for a Fever franchise that hasn't reached the WNBA Finals since 2015 — the Fever's first and only championship came in 2012 — and head coach Stephanie White believes they can.
"When you have the bookends — when you have a point guard, and you have a center that are special — you can build a team around that," White said postgame. "And certainly you add in Kelsey , who had already been here it can make for some really special things.
" First things first, the Fever will continue WNBA Commissioner's Cup play against the Connecticut Sun on Saturday. They're 3-1 Commissioner's Cup record is second to the New York Liberty in the Eastern Conference. To learn more about the Commissioner's Cup, click
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