Indiana Fever drop close game to Chicago Sky for fifth loss: 'We was 2.7 seconds away from winning.'
The Indiana Fever were close but not good enough for the third straight game on Tuesday night, falling to the Chicago Sky, 108-103 in overtime, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Tuesday.
The Fever are now 1-5 on the season, with their sole victory coming over the Atlanta Dream.
Indiana will stay on the road for its next game against the Minnesota Lynx on Friday night.
Here are three observations from the Fever’s defeat:
Down to the wire
The Fever are no stranger to close games.
In Indiana’s season-opener, the Fever came within three points of the Connecticut Sun with 2 minutes left. Then, Indiana led the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces until the fourth quarter and lost in the final seconds, 84-80, on Sunday.
But the Fever haven’t been able to close out those games.
“We’re doing so many good things, but it’s so hard to keep going in that locker room and trying to keep their spirits up, because you’ve got to find wins,” head coach Christie Sides said.
Indiana led with 2.7 seconds remaining in regulation, but the Fever allowed a layup at the buzzer, going into their first overtime of the season.
The Sky controlled the overtime from the start, and the Fever couldn’t catch up.
“We was 2.7 seconds away from winning this game,” guard Erica Wheeler said. “It sucks to lose, but it’s just showing that you’re on every game. They’re beating us by just possessions. For us, I think we can just learn from our mistakes and move on from it.”
Aliyah Boston’s career night not enough
No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston eclipsed 20 points for the first time in her WNBA career on Tuesday, but it wasn’t enough for the Fever to take the victory.
Boston single-handedly kept the Fever in the game, scoring Indiana's last eight points of regulation.
“I just try to be physical, but play smart,” Boston said. “Not risk anything too early and just play a clean game. It worked out really well.”
The center out of South Carolina also had the first double-double of her professional career, registering 25 points on 12-of-15 shooting and 11 rebounds.
Erica Wheeler sets single-game assists record
Guard Erica Wheeler put up 12 assists on Tuesday night, setting a franchise single-game assists record.
Her record was the culmination of her regaining confidence in the 2023 season, she said.
“I think I was hesitant in the beginning, so for me just being confident and making reads,” Wheeler said. “Early on I was trying to share the ball too much and forgot about myself, because that’s my natural instinct, but just reading the defense and then just taking what they have given me.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever lose to Chicago Sky despite Aliyah Boston's effort
