Game Preview: Fever Look for Commissioner's Cup Road Win in Chicago Tuesday Night

Tue, Jun 6, 2023, 2:11 AM

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Indiana Fever at Chicago Sky
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Wintrust Arena | 8 p.m. ET

Broadcast Information
Indiana Fever Facebook/CBS Sports Network
Pat Boylan (play-by-play), Bria Goss (analyst)

The Indiana Fever will travel to Chicago on Tuesday night to take on the Sky at Wintrust Arena with tipoff set for 8 p.m. ET.

Last time out for Indiana was a hard fought matchup against the Las Vegas Aces at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, resulting in an 84-80 loss. The Aces narrowly escaped with the win after rallying for a 14-3 scoring run in the final minutes of the fourth quarter that allowed the defending champions to overcome a late 10-point Fever lead. The Fever defense held Las Vegas to a season-low offensive output and pulled-down a season-high 35 defensive rebounds.

The Fever were led in scoring by Kelsey Mitchell who notched 22 points on the night, with 14 being scored in the third quarter alone. Mitchell surpassed the 2,500-career point mark on Sunday, ending the night with 2,514 points all-time as she trails Katie Douglas with 2,564 points for second all-time in franchise history. She is also averaging a team-high 17.2 points per game this season.

Fever forward NaLyssa Smith, who ranks second in the league in rebounds (11.4 rpg), scored her 500th career point against Las Vegas as well. Indiana’s bench offered impactful support as Queen Egbo, Kristy Wallace, Grace Berger, and Victoria Vivians outscored the Aces reserves 24-5 in combined bench points.

WNBA Rookie of the Month Aliyah Boston went 3-of-4 shooting and added four rebounds in her first career matchup against Las Vegas.

The Sky take the floor Tuesday following two consecutive matchups against the New York Liberty. The Liberty took the first game in Chicago, 77-76, but the Sky bounced back in game two and secured a comeback road win, 86-82, after trailing by as many as 19 points.

After many key members departed Chicago following a 26-10 regular season record in 2022, Sky guard Kahleah Copper has stepped in leading the team in scoring to start her seventh season in Chicago, averaging 17.1 points per game. Copper poured in a game-high 27 points to support the Sky in the comeback win against the Liberty on Sunday.

In her first season with the Sky, fifth-year guard Marina Mabrey is averaging 14.8 points and 4.3 assists per game. Mabrey recorded 17 points on Sunday against the Liberty, followed by Courtney Williams who pitched in 12 points and Elizabeth Williams with 11 points. Williams, who was signed by Chicago this offseason, leads the Sky averaging 7.9 rebounds per game.

Probable Starters

Indiana Fever (1-4)

Center – Aliyah Boston (14.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
Forward – NaLyssa Smith (13.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 1.2 apg)
Guard – Lexie Hull (2.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.0 spg)
Guard – Kelsey Mitchell (17.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.6 apg)
Guard – Erica Wheeler (6.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 3.8 apg)

Chicago Sky (4-3)

Guard – Kahleah Copper (17.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.9 apg)
Forward – Alanna Smith (9.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Center – Elizabeth Williams (8.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg)
Guard – Courtney Williams (9.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 5.4 apg)
Guard – Marina Mabrey (14.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.3 apg)

Game Status Report

Indiana – None
Chicago – TBA