Kelsey Mitchell's 33 Points Lift Fever Past Liberty, 108-88

Kelsey Mitchell scored 33 points as the Indiana Fever rallied from 13 points down to beat the New York Liberty 108-88 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Marine Johannès scored 12 points in the first quarter before leaving with an ankle injury.

She hit four 3-pointers in the opening stretch, tying her career high for a quarter and season high, and passed Sugar Rodgers for fifth on the Liberty's career 3-point list before exiting.

Liberty coach Chris DeMarco had little else to share afterward.

"She hurt her ankle. No update as of now," DeMarco said.

New York's outside shooting gave an early lead. The Liberty hit a season-high seven 3-pointers in the first quarter, shooting 77.8% (7-for-9), and led 28-22 after one. Aliyah Boston said Indiana's defense was the problem.

"Our defense was just crappy," Boston said. "We weren't anticipating any passes. We gave up so many open threes. Marine got off so many threes in that first quarter."

Indiana cut the deficit to 49-45 by halftime with a 9-0 run, while New York finished the half with nine 3-pointers, tying their season high. In the third, Myisha Hines-Allen sparked a 16-2 run with a game-tying 3, then a 10-0 run from 7:25 to 5:16 put Indiana ahead for good, part of a 30-12 quarter that extended the lead to 75-61 at quarter’s end. Mitchell credited discipline for the Fever's improved play.

"When we made shots difficult for their best players, it ultimately put us in position to be where we needed to be offensively," Mitchell said. "Stewie's great for a reason. Sabrina's great for a reason. I just think for us it was about making sure we made them uncomfortable throughout the course of the game."

Mitchell's 33-point night marked her fourth 30-point game this season, tying the franchise record she shares with Caitlin Clark. She achieved this in just 26 games, compared to 35 last year. Her 15th career 30-point game has put her ahead of the rest of the franchise, and her 41st consecutive double-digit scoring game is now the team's longest streak ever. Boston, who has played with Mitchell throughout her career, said she is no longer surprised by her performances.

"It's already hard for people to guard K-Mitch, and I think for her, she just comes in and works," Boston said. "She shows up every day the same way no matter what, and she just continues to work. You see it when she gets on the floor and has anyone on an island or in transition. She can score any way she wants at any point."

Off the bench, Hines-Allen posted a plus-22 in 14 minutes, the best plus-minus in any Fever game under 15 minutes. Fever coach Stephanie White said her impact went beyond scoring.

"It wasn't just the shot. Her activity level and communication defensively were really good. Her positioning was really good," White said. "She was big, and her combination with KK was really big. They played well together."

Clark scored nine points in the fourth quarter on the second night of a back-to-back, with her five field goals moving her past Tan White into 15th on the franchise's career list. White said Clark handled the quick turnaround well.

"She seemed to be feeling pretty good. There were times where I felt like she looked a little off balance, but nothing that I thought was concerning," White said. "She played heavy minutes, and I thought she did a really good job of taking what they gave her. Her facilitating was outstanding."

Boston scored six points during Indiana's second-quarter rally. Lexie Hull's appearance was her 160th with the Fever, moving her past Kelly Schumacher into 13th on the franchise list. Indiana scored 30 points off Liberty turnovers and won the fast-break battle 18-3. White credited the defense for setting that pace.

"Our defense allowed us to get out and play at the pace we wanted to play," White said. "It's the defense that allowed us to get out and run."

Indiana's 65-point second half is a franchise record, and the 108 points rank sixth in team history. It's the Fever's 10th 100-point game this season, a franchise record and one off the WNBA's single-season mark set by the 2023 Las Vegas Aces, and the largest comeback from a double-digit deficit the franchise has managed since 2009.

Breanna Stewart led New York with 26 points on 10-for-16 shooting, adding eight rebounds, three assists, and three blocks, a feat only matched by A'ja Wilson this season. Stewart has recorded a steal or block in 20 straight games, tying the longest streak in the league, but New York has lost four straight and is 13-12.

"One loss turns into two, then three, now four. That's a lot," Stewart said. "There are a lot of things I didn't do well today, turnovers, missed free throws, things like that. In order for us to be our best, I need to be better."

Jonquel Jones scored 13 points with two steals, and Sabrina Ionescu added 12 points and four assists. Rookie Pauline Astier contributed nine points, five assists, and three steals in her third straight multi-steal game. Marine Fauthoux scored her first WNBA points, and Rebecca Allen moved into eighth on the franchise's career blocks list.

New York had 17 turnovers and missed 10 free throws. Jones said the discipline from the first half didn't carry over.

"In the first half we took good shots, played the right way, slowed them down, got back defensively, built the wall and were there for each other," Jones said. "That was the difference between the two halves."

The Wings host the Liberty on Monday in Arlington, while the Fever host the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.