The Indiana Fever picked up their first win of the 2026 WNBA season with a convincing 87-78 road victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, May 13, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell powered the Fever offense, while Monique Billings made an impactful regular-season debut and Myisha Hines-Allen reached a historic personal milestone.
Indiana Fever vs Los Angeles Sparks Match Player Stats: Caitlin Clark Shines
Caitlin Clark had 24 points and nine assists, Kelsey Mitchell added 23 points, and the Indiana Fever beat the Los Angeles Sparks 87-78 on Wednesday night.
Clark shot 9-of-17 from the field despite going 1-of-7 from behind the arc. She added four rebounds, two steals, and one block in the victory. The six turnovers were the only blemish on an otherwise commanding performance from the Fever's floor general.
Clark told reporters she feels great heading into the new season after being limited to just 13 games in 2025 due to a series of soft tissue injuries. "Recovery is the most important thing for me right now, but I feel great going into tonight," Clark said. "Just continuing to get my feet back under me. I haven't really played 30 minutes in about a year."
Kelsey Mitchell and the Fever Offense Dominate the First Half
Indiana led 48-34 at halftime behind 17 points from Mitchell and 11 by Clark. Mitchell was 7-of-9 from the field to help the Fever shoot 56% in the first half.
Mitchell finished with 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting, hitting three three-pointers and going a perfect 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. She was Indiana's most efficient scorer, picking her spots all night and creating constant problems for the Sparks defense. Mitchell's ability to stretch the floor gave Clark room to operate and find open teammates in traffic.
Monique Billings Makes Her Fever Debut, Myisha Hines-Allen Hits 500 Career Assists
Sophie Cunningham added 12 points and Monique Billings had nine points and eight rebounds in her regular-season debut for Indiana. Myisha Hines-Allen reached 500 career assists.
Billings was a force on the glass throughout the evening, finishing with two offensive rebounds, six defensive boards, two assists, and a steal across her 50% shooting night. She also knocked down a three-pointer on her lone attempt from beyond the arc. For a Fever team that needs interior toughness, Billings delivered exactly what was asked of her on opening night in California.
Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell Lead the Sparks in Defeat
Kelsey Plum led Los Angeles with 25 points and Dearica Hamby added 16. Cameron Brink had 11 points and three blocks, and Nneka Ogwumike and Rae Burrell each scored 10.
Hamby was efficient all night, shooting 75% from the field and 80% from the free-throw line while hauling in eight rebounds. Rae Burrell contributed 10 points and two steals off the bench, while Cameron Brink's three blocks kept the Sparks in it defensively — including a memorable emphatic rejection of a Clark layup attempt in the first quarter.
Starter Ariel Atkins played 16 minutes before leaving with a head injury, disrupting the Sparks' rotation at a critical time.
Fever vs Sparks: How the Game Was Decided
The Fever limited the Sparks to only 14 points during the second quarter, building a commanding halftime lead of 48-34. That defensive stretch completely shifted the momentum in the fever game, frustrating Los Angeles offensively and forcing difficult shot attempts throughout the first half.
Los Angeles went on an 11-3 run late in the fourth, capped by a shot from Kelsey Plum, to pull within 83-76 with 1:23 left. After an Indiana turnover, Plum missed an open three-pointer from the corner. Clark then found Mitchell on an inbounds pass for a layup to give Indiana an 85-76 lead and effectively seal the win.
Indiana Fever and Los Angeles Sparks: What's Next
The Indiana Fever are currently in action tonight, May 18, hosting the Seattle Storm with a 6:00 p.m. ET tipoff. Indiana leads that contest 49-40 in the second quarter. The Sparks meanwhile head to Toronto for back-to-back games against the Tempo. For fans asking where to watch Indiana Fever games, all WNBA games air on ION, CBS, Amazon Prime Video, and ESPN platforms throughout the 2026 season.
