Fever Fall To Dream in Final Moments; Face ATL Today in Rematch; Recap of Game 2

Fever Fall To Dream In Final Moments; Face ATL Today in Rematch; 

Good, Bad & Ugly of Game 2

 By Deon Cash 

The Indiana Fever came into game 2 of the 2024l5 seaaon with a lot of energy and momentum after a huge blowout win over Chicago in the season opener. 

On Tuesday they faced Atlanta, with WNBA legend Britney Griner now on the Dream squad after being back in the league last year with Phoenix.

The Dream took command early behind Griner and Brionna Jones, then held off and shocked the Fever with a 91-90 win as the Fever weren't able to capitalize on the final possession at the end of the game. 

After the Fever took their first lead since the

beginning of the game on a Aliyah Boston free throw,  Atlanta Rhyne Howard was fouled and hit 2 clutch free throws to give the Dream the lead for good. 

On the last play, Natasha Howard was able to get a mid-range shot that was blocked. The final fadeaway was no good, and the Dream had pulled off the upset win.

THE GOOD 

The "Big 3" provided the juice, as Clark had another double double to set the record for 20 point, 10 assist games in WNBA history...Kelsey Mitchell

dropped 24 while Aliyah Boston dropped 24 and Clark had 27 to go with the 11 dimes....Lexy Hull was a +14 with her on the floor during the game...The Fever shot 47% from 3-pt range. 

THE BAD  

Another slow start essentially had the Fever battling upward the entire game...Bonner & Howard had off nights offensively...The slow start in the 2nd half kept Fever off balance...16-26 Free throw shooting should be better.

THE UGLY 

Bonner, after becoming the 3rd all time leading scorer in game 1, wasn't able to score against the Dream...The execution on the final play despite getting good look from Howard...14 Turnovers turned into 20 points...Social media pundits already complaining about off season acquisitions of Fever. 

NEXT GAME  - AT ATLANTA 

The good part about the tough loss? You see the opp you lost to just two days later. Expect a strong performance from Bonner and Howard tonight. The game will start tonight at 730pm.

Follow S.E.Live365  and Dayton 24-7 Now  for more information on the Indiana Fever this 2025 WNBA Season.  

WNBA RECAP: Fever Pummel Sky In Season Opener as Clark Amasses Triple Double, Gets Testy With Angel Reese; The Good, Bad, and Ugly

 FEVER PUMMEL SKY AS CLARKS' TRIPLE DOUBLE, BOSTON LEAD WAY; BONNER MOVES UP SCORING LIST; REESE AND CLARK GET TANGLED UP 

          Clark Amasses Triple Double in Season Opening                               Win                                             

By Deon Cash 

The Indiana Fever trotted out its "New Look" retooled lineup and team against the Chicago Sky, who also have a new look team of sorts in the 2025 WNBA Season Opener Saturday at home.  

The Sky have a new head coach and staff, with the additions of rookies Haley Van Lith and Maddy Westbeld, and optimism after a near playoff run last season led by Star F Angel Reese.

Well that Sky hype was dissolved quickly as the Fever jumped out and routed Chicago 93-58 as Caitlin Clark led the blowout win while Dewanna Bonner became the 3rd leading all-time scorer in WNBA history.

The game was only 22-17 after the first quarter, but the Fever pushed the lead to double digits at half (45-32) and never looked back. 

Clark posted her 4th triple double of her career as she had a 20-10-10 masterpiece while the Fever used all of their weapons to seal the deal and send the Sky pissed off and packing. 

The Fever had four ladies in double figures, as Aliyah Boston (19pts, 13 reb) dominated inside, Natasha Howard (15pts, 5reb) fit in seamlessly, and Clarks' backcourt partner (Kelsey Mitchell) dropped 15 as well. Lexie Hull had 9 off the bench. 

New Indiana coach Stephanie White, a former Fever hooper who made a return for this opportunity, was happy with the performance, but knows there will be much more growth needed to execute what they want to do in Naptown. 

In front of a sold out crowd, with the likes of Tyrese Haliburton and other stars in the building watching the high profile season opener, the Fever showed why they could be a real contender for a WNBA title. 

THE GOOD 

Almost everything that could have went right for the Fever did.

Clark, Boston, and Mitchell balled out. Howard fits seamlessly into the lineup at the 5 and showed her worth. The crowd was electric. Bonner moved up the WNBA All-Time scoring chart. Every player played in the game. It could not have went any better for the Fever.  

THE BAD 

The Fever started a little slowly which was to be expected; There were a variety of different pieces added to a new puzzle. Early startes was a Achilles last season, so its something to watch for.

THE UGLY

The incident between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark now becomes a bigger headline, as reports of racism was being spewed at Reese during the game has leaked out. 

On top of that, Clark and Reese got tangled up as Clark was assessed a flagrant foul for hacking Reese and pushing her to the floor, which had Reese furious to say the least. 

The Commissioner and the league has quickly responded, saying that racism or any hate will not be tolerated in the league. 

As the W continues its upward rise, there will always be some type of resentment and divide that tries to take away from key games, players, and moments. The W did a good job of putting out the fire, along with Clark and Reese. 

Reese, after the presser, kept it brief and seems to have moved on. Clark vehemently denied any excessive meaning to the foul. 

FINAL COMMENT AFTER GAME 1 

The Fever are who we thought they were. A team who be in the thick of a Championship race in the W. The Sky look to be in rebuild mode, as Reese was the only real bright spot (12pts 17 reb) in a blowout loss. 

WHOS NEXT?

The Fever will battle on Tuesday night as they take on the Atlanta Dream at home. This will be a solid test for where the Fever might be in regards to where they stand early in the season. 

The game will be shown on one of the channels as a part of the Dayton 24-7 Now Partnership with the Indiana Fever. 

Follow S.E.Live365 and Dayton24-7 Now (Fox Sports Dayton)  for weekly coverage on the Fever and the WNBA. 

Coach Bill Staten, Thomas Clark, Talk 50 Years of Dayton Hoops in the 90s; 1st Amendment Featured in Business Spotlight

 COACH STATEN, CLARK TALK 90'S ON 50 YEARS OF DAYTON HOOPS 

Billy Staten, one of the more prominent coaching figures in Dayton HS Sports history, will be featured on the show 50 Years of Dayton Hoops today on ABC.

Staten was a integral part of the 1990 Cougars Championship team that graced the championship podium in OHSAA basketball. 

He, along with Tom Clements, helped lead that talented team. He also coached  around the Miami Valley (Trotwood, Thurgood Marshall). He reached the State Championship twice, as he suffered a heartbreaking defeat with his son leading Thurgood to a title game in front of LeBron James. 

Thomas Clark and the Sidney Yellow Jackets team of 93-94 also talks on set about the highest scoring game in OHSAA history.  

Sidney was a offensive force in the 90s as they averaged 90ppg in multiple seasons, adopting the Loyola Marymount philosophy of scoring fast and playing an uptempo style of play that lead to excitement and ultimately, success. 

The Yellow Jackets give a intriguing take on what it was like on that historic Saturday at Colonel White, when they lost to the Cougars 130-123. 

That record still remains atop the OHSAA ranks over 30 years later. 

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT GUEST OF THE WEEK - 1ST AMENDMENT MEDIA 

1st Amendment Media is the Business Spotlight of the Week, as the Columbus based business comes and talk about the new moves they are making and how they have gotten to this point thus far. 

Next week we will dive into the 2000s era and talk to the prominent teams during that decade.