Indiana Fever get first home win in nearly a year with victory over Washington Mystics

INDIANAPOLIS − Indiana Fever fans have waited nearly a year for this.

In front of 3,000 fans, the Fever broke through for a win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, taking down the Washington Mystics, 87-66, for their first home win since June 19, 2022. It also marked their first double-digit victory since the 2021 season.

"When you have fans that are yelling and screaming like they used to do when I used to come here and play when I was at Chicago, it just changes everything," said Christie Sides, who marked her first home win as the Fever's head coach.

Indiana (3-6) is now just two short of its 2022 win total.

Here are three thoughts from the Fever's long-awaited victory:

Breaking the curse

This season, the Fever have had an unshakeable habit of losing a lead in the fourth quarter. They broke that habit Tuesday.

Indiana took an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter− the same lead they had against the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday night going into the final 10 minutes.

"It was drilled into our head about that fourth quarter," guard Kelsey Mitchell said. "... I think we just knew what was at stake if we didn't win this game, and coach Christie put the nail in the coffin about us being resilient. I think we stayed resilient throughout the course of the 40 minutes, so I'm proud of us for that."

On Sunday, the Mercury tied the score in the first minute of the fourth quarter. But the Fever extended their lead over the Mystics throughout the fourth quarter, leading the best defensive team in the league by 21 points.

"In our last six games, we were only losing games about negative 1.6," Sides said. "That's one bucket. That's one turnover. That's one offensive rebound movement. And I've been harping on them and they've heard it over and over and over again."

Mitchell passes Katie Douglas on scoring list

Mitchell, the longest-tenured player on the Fever, became Indiana's second all-time leading scorer on Tuesday, passing Katie Douglas. Mitchell, with 2,581 career points, now trails just Tamika Catchings, who played for the Fever from 2002-16 and scored 7,380 points.

"Kelsey Mitchell wants to win more than anyone in this building," Sides said. "She is bought in to do whatever we need her to do to win, she's just an exciting player. Her speed, her quickness ... it's just hard to guard her."

Mitchell needed just two points to tie Douglas' total. She tied Douglas with a pull-up jump shot and passed her with an unassisted layup in the first quarter.

"I'm grateful, I'm humbled," Mitchell said. "I think, for me, it's hard to pinpoint how important those kinds of accolades are, but to be a part of that company I'm obviously grateful."

Aliyah Boston bounces back

No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston had the least effective game of her young professional career on Sunday, registering just four points and sitting half the game with foul trouble.

On Tuesday, she found a way to bounce back.

"I'm just trying to do what my team needs, seriously," Boston said. "Score the ball and be a solid post presence all around."

Going up against 6-5 Mystics center Shakira Austin, Boston had her third double-double of the season with 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting and 14 rebounds. She also dished out six assists.

"She wants to be great, and she's doing it," Sides said. "She's doing things to help her get to where she wants to be. She has all the intangibles."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever get first home win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in nearly a year