Matthew Byrne Articles - Page 2

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The 2024 WNBA Playoffs begin Sunday afternoon around the nation in New York, Minnesota, Connecticut and Las Vegas. Out of the eight-team bracket, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever had to snap the longest active playoff drought in the league to get here. By doing so, they’ve become the sole team in […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Of course, the final game of the regular season for the Indiana Fever Thursday night at Capital One Arena had to be the largest crowd in the league’s history.  It suitably capped off an extraordinary sprout for not only Caitlin Clark, but the Fever, the league, and the sport of women’s basketball. The Fever’s 2024 […]

For the Indiana Fever, Thursday night’s regular-season finale at the Washington Mystics didn’t hold any value. The Fever were already fastened as the No. 6 seed in the WNBA playoffs and will be shipped off to Connecticut in mere days. But for the so-called Gray Squad, Thursday was an opportunity Christie Sides hadn’t given them […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is running out of records to break. Sunday afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Clark surpassed Seimone Augustus for the all-time rookie scoring record, with 761 points and her career-best 35 in the nail-biting 110-109 win over the Dallas Wings. And in Clark fashion, teammates at times had to distract her […]

INDIANAPOLIS — With the Indiana Fever viewing these back-to-back home games with the Las Vegas Aces as the mock playoffs, well, they’ve just been sent home after Friday’s 78-74 loss. Even Fever head coach Christie Sides acknowledged what’s written above. Las Vegas is the lone opponent the Fever haven’t beaten this season, swept in two home […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was tired Wednesday night. She said so at the podium following the 86-75 defeat to the Las Vegas Aces. Clark shot 6-for-22 from the field, which is the most shots she’s taken all season. She shot 1-for-10 beyond the arc, which is her lowest percentage in any game so […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever just dodged back-to-back home defeats Sunday, beating the Atlanta Dream in overtime, in which both teams hit triple digits. Next up, the Fever host the back-to-back defending champions Las Vegas Aces Wednesday and Friday night, looking to lock up the No. 6 seed for the playoffs. To […]

INDIANAPOLIS — The deficit for the Indiana Fever in the third quarter Sunday afternoon, and the void on the court vacuuming the team in, continued to balloon in size. The Fever trailed by an okay four points at halftime. Four minutes after the break, four turned to 16: the largest lead of the afternoon for the […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark realized it instantly. She went over and told head coach Christie Sides that her pass to Temi Fagbenle in transition was poor, and so was the decision to even attempt it. The Fever trailed by one possession with 5:13 to go in the fourth quarter when it occurred. […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark dealt with pressure Wednesday night in the only way Caitlin Clark knows how: posting her second triple-double of the season right as time ran out in the 93-86 win over the Los Angeles Sparks. The pressure was, the Fever had clinched the playoffs overnight with opponent losses and had […]

Back in mid-August, returning from the WNBA Olympic break, the pathway to the playoffs was visible for the Indiana Fever. With 14 more games to go in the regular season, and holding onto the second-to-last playoff spot by three games, they’d play nine more home games. Sellouts at home are the norm, too. Simply win […]

CHICAGO — Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark had to get an air ball in. That’s what she said, reclining in her chair and grinning at teammate Kelsey Mitchell after their 100-81 blowout win over the Chicago Sky. The duo combined for 54 points, with Clark posting her new career-best 31.  Midway through the fourth quarter, […]

CHICAGO — Leading up to the regular-season finale between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever on Friday night, Caitlin Clark was asked if the competitiveness surrounding the Rookie of the Year race with Angel Reese has been fun. It’s only between these rookies out of the Midwest.  “I think me and Angel would both give […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell didn’t care for the result of Wednesday night’s colossal test versus the Connecticut Sun. She didn’t care, as long as the Fever didn’t get bullied and swept on the season by the second-best team in the league. Mitchell, of course, did play like she cared. The vet clutched […]

Right around seven minutes into the Indiana Fever’s 84-79 survival win at the Atlanta Dream Monday night, rookie guard Caitlin Clark abruptly collapsed. It was the brief glimpse into an ordeal that surely all Fever fans can’t think more than seconds about. While playing defense, Clark rolled her left ankle. She had help to get […]

The Minnesota Lynx have continued to roll coming out of the summer Olympic Break, beating the Indiana Fever Saturday night. Ten days, five games and now five wins to clinch the playoffs. Four-time Minnesota WNBA champion Maya Moore’s uniform was retired after the 90-80 victory.  Losing to Indiana could have spoiled the celebration, and it […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark getting the WNBA rookie assist record, of course, couldn’t have happened quietly. For starters, the Indiana Fever decimated the Seattle Storm 92-75 Sunday afternoon. It got so bad that Clark and teammates Lexie Hull and Kelsey Mitchell carouseled the spotlight basically every other possession. Clark also picked up her fifth technical foul […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever’s 98-87 win Friday night over the Phoenix Mercury got chippy to restart the second part of the WNBA season. With four technical fouls, perhaps the players were simply antsy and overeager to get back onto the court. Things finally boiled over.  The Fever led by 17 points […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever guard Kristy Wallace is back in the states after winning the bronze medal with the Australian women’s basketball team at the recent 2024 Paris Olympics.  Wallace wasn’t there for Tuesday’s practice on the Fever’s smaller designated court. She was trekking back to Indiana. But for her return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday, […]

INDIANAPOLIS — It’s official. Indianapolis will host the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game for the first time ever. There’s no better time, with the hike in popularity surrounding Caitlin Clark and the Fever. The franchise announced Wednesday that jersey sales are up 1,193%, ticket sales are up 264%, they’ve had 38 games on national television, and 10 […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Right after the WNBA All-Star Game, Indiana Fever top-overall pick Caitlin Clark finally got to rest. The Fever didn’t hold practices in that first week into the break and Clark and some teammates vacationed to Mexico. Despite the re-introduction of practices in the last few weeks, Clark used more of the WNBA Olympic […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Following practices ramping up in the last week of July, it’s finally gameweek for the Indiana Fever. Eleven of the team’s players are back in town, the lone exemption being Australian medal-winner Kristy Wallace, who is traveling back from the recent Paris Olympics.  Simultaneous with the 2024 Games, Unrivaled Basketball has slowly continued to […]

Caitlin Clark’s spree of WNBA milestones in her rookie season with the Indiana Fever has been put on pause as of late. Frankly, they’ve been put on mute since the All-Star Game on July 20 in Phoenix. The Fever haven’t held any practices since, and WNBA games will resume in mid-August.  With downtime for much […]

During Saturday night’s All-Star Game in Phoenix, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark made history, to no surprise. Clark recorded 10 assists, setting the rookie record in an All-Star Game, as Team WNBA beat the Team USA Olympians, 117-109. Clark played the fourth-most minutes.  But while resting in the third quarter, Clark conducted an in-game interview […]

In Wednesday’s game, Indiana Fever top-overall pick Caitlin Clark checked these three notable boxes. (1) Clark surpassed teammate Erica Wheeler for the most single-season assists in Fever franchise history. (2) Clark set the all-time single-game rookie assist record. (3) In turn, Clark overtook 13-year vet Courtney Vandersloot to set the WNBA single-game assist record with […]

Indiana Fever No. 1 draft picks ​​Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston ​​shared yet another wholesome moment after an 81-74 win over the Minnesota Lynx Sunday at the Target Center. Boston’s 16 rebounds was her new career high, while Clark passed Sue Bird for second in all-time rookie assists. Clark was asked about the WNBA assist […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Something was different about Indiana Fever top-overall pick Caitlin Clark in Friday night’s 95-86 home win over the Phoenix Mercury. Clark had her fifth straight point-assist double-double, so that was the consistent part. She also put up 13 assists for the third straight game. But the way she got that number was different. For […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Former Indiana Fever 2024 second-round pick Celeste Taylor was back in Gainbridge Fieldhouse Friday night despite being cut by the franchise almost three weeks ago. What was the rookie doing there? Wearing purple, orange, and black for the Phoenix Mercury.  The Mercury announced Friday morning that they signed Taylor to a seven-day contract. […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Mere days following the Indiana Fever’s best win of the 2024 season over the league’s-best New York Liberty, the Fever floundered at home versus the Washington Mystics. Three passive quarters to start Wednesday’s matinee paved the way for the Fever’s spirited comeback. It was futile in the eventual 89-84 loss inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.  Indiana […]

INDIANAPOLIS — There’s been so much talk about the on-court connection between Indiana Fever teammates Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark. From June 13 onward, Boston has turned the corner, churning out efficient performances. If the counter is that the schedule has lightened up, well, Boston had another great outing in Saturday’s win over the WNBA’s-best […]

INDIANAPOLIS — After the Indiana Fever’s win over the New York Liberty Saturday afternoon, head coach Christie Sides was asked if she’d like to take the opportunity to make her case for Caitlin Clark being Rookie of the Year. Clark had just posted the first rookie triple-double in WNBA history in the win.  History! Caitlin Clark […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Following many near stat lines this season, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has finally become the first rookie in WNBA history to reach triple-double territory. The milestone added onto the Fever’s 83-78 win over the league’s best New York Liberty Saturday afternoon.  It also served as the first triple-double in the Fever’s 25-season […]

The 2024 WNBA All-Star Team was announced Tuesday night, weeks before the All-Star Game itself will take place in Phoenix. The format is that All-Stars from the USA Basketball Women’s National Team will compete versus the WNBA All-Stars voted in by fans, media, and coaches. There was tons of discussion regarding whether Caitlin Clark would make […]

Three assists into Sunday’s game at the Phoenix Mercury, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark set the franchise rookie record with 129. Clark continued pushing toward 12 assists, and by game’s end, she was only one rebound shy of becoming the first rookie and Fever player ever to reach triple-double territory. Picture that feat, as an […]

During Thursday night’s contest at the Seattle Storm, Indiana Fever top-overall pick Caitlin Clark became the fastest rookie in WNBA history to reach 300 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists. Despite the milestone, the Fever succumbed to the Storm for the third time this season, 89-77.  Clark scored 15 points, tying the team lead. The […]

CHICAGO — Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark drained her fourth and fifth 3-pointers only three minutes into Sunday’s fourth quarter at the Chicago Sky. Her 33-footer from outer space at the 9:41 mark put the Fever up by 11 points. Her 28-footer put the Fever up by 12 at the 7:12 mark.  With Clark taking […]

CHICAGO — The spotlight was all on Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, even on the road against the Chicago Sky with rookie stars such as Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Pregame in the interview room, Clark did not know how many Iowa fans would be there. Yet she did recognize Iowa’s pipeline to Chicago in […]

Following the Indiana Fever’s 91-79 win over the Atlanta Dream Friday night, they’ve now won four straight games for the first time since the 2015 season. It’s also the first time they have strung together six wins in an eight-game span since that season, where they made the WNBA Finals.  Next up for the Fever […]

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever have become only the second team in WNBA history to open the season with eight consecutive home games at 15,000-plus attendance. Wednesday night’s sellout 88-81 win over the Washington Mystics matched the 2002 Mystics attendance.  So yes, the Fever beat the identical franchise 20-plus years later to tie an incredible turnout […]