Kelsey Mitchell drops 33 as Indiana Fever beat New York Liberty: Highlights

The Indiana Fever overcame a 13-point first-half deficit to defeat the New York Liberty 108-88 on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The victory marks Indiana's second win in two nights and their fourth in five games. New York suffered its fourth consecutive loss, extending a road skid of five consecutive defeats.

Kelsey Mitchell paced the offensive effort with 33 points, shooting 10-for-14 from the field and 4-for-6 from three-point range. She added 9-of-13 from the free-throw line. The performance represents the first back-to-back 30-point games of Mitchell's career, following a 30-point outing against Seattle on Friday. According to Wibc, the nine-year veteran has now scored at least 20 points in 10 straight games. Mitchell also extended her franchise record to 15 30-point outings after a four-point play late in the game.

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"I eat, breathe and sleep basketball, and it sounds crazy, but it's come from a standpoint of me just loving a game,"

Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever, via USA TODAY

Caitlin Clark contributed 17 points and seven assists, though she struggled from the floor, shooting 5-of-14 overall and 2-of-8 from beyond the arc. Clark also recorded seven turnovers. Despite the dip in efficiency following her franchise-record 45 points on Friday, Sports Illustrated reports she remained aggressive in the lane, converting several and-one opportunities. The Saturday appearance marked Clark's first back-to-back set of games in over two years, as she had not played in such a schedule since her 2024 rookie season.

Turning the Tide

The Liberty appeared fresh, having not played in nearly a week, while the Fever were playing their third game in four nights. New York leveraged this advantage early, taking a quick 15-4 lead and eventually building a 13-point cushion in the second quarter. Marine Johannes fueled this start, hitting four 3-pointers in the first quarter alone.

Indiana responded with a 16-7 run in the final 2:49 of the first half to bring the game within four points by halftime, narrowing the gap to 49-45. The momentum shifted permanently in the third quarter, where the Fever outscored New York 30-12, according to Yahoo Sports. During this stretch, Indiana forced nine of New York's 15 turnovers.

Defensive pressure and bench depth proved decisive. Indiana's reserves outscored New York's second unit 31-16, as reported by Bleacher Report. Sophie Cunningham provided 11 points, including three 3-pointers, and Tyasha Harris added 11 points and three assists. Aliyah Boston returned from a lower right leg injury to contribute 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in 24 minutes.

Discipline and Injuries

The game was marked by physical play and officiating disputes. Caitlin Clark was assessed a technical foul in the first quarter after yelling at a referee over a no-call involving a screen set by Jonquel Jones that knocked Clark to the ground. According to The New York Times, this was Clark's sixth technical foul of the season. She is now two technicals away from a mandatory one-game suspension.

On the Liberty side, Marine Johannes left the game in the fourth quarter with a left ankle injury after stepping on Tyasha Harris' foot. New York also played without Leonie Fiebich, who is dealing with a foot injury, and Satou Sabally, who remains in concussion protocol.

Breanna Stewart led New York with 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting but struggled at the line, missing five of nine free throws. The Liberty's overall struggle at the charity stripe was stark; Bleacher Report noted New York missed 10 free throws, finishing 15-of-25.

Game Statistics Comparison

What's Next

The Indiana Fever improve to a 16-10 record and have hit the 100-point mark 10 times this season. The team now has one final game against the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday before entering All-Star weekend in Chicago. Clark, Mitchell, and Boston will take the court as starters for the event.

The New York Liberty fall to 13-12, having lost eight of their last 11 games. This follows a stretch where the team won eight straight games before struggling in the second half of June and July.