TORONTO — Kelsey Mitchell scored 33 points to set a WNBA single-season scoring record, surpassing A’ja Wilson’s 2024 mark of 1,021 points. Her teammate Caitlin Clark added 28 points and 14 assists as the Indiana Fever defeated the Toronto Tempo 103-85 on Friday night.
Mitchell finished the game with 1,034 points, breaking the record she set in a 25-point performance. The Fever improved to 27-14, while the Tempo fell to 11-30 with their fifth straight loss and 17 defeats in their last 18 games.
Key Performances and Records
Mitchell’s 33 points included 12-for-17 shooting and 7-for-11 from three-point range, extending her WNBA record with at least 20 points in 25 consecutive games. Clark, returning from the FIBA World Cup, recorded her 14th double-double of the season and 33rd of her career, tying her own record for most double-doubles by a guard in a single season. She also made 12 free throws without a miss and added six rebounds.
Clark and Aliyah Boston represented the United States in the FIBA World Cup title game in Berlin, Germany, last weekend. The Fever led 25-19 after the first quarter but saw the Tempo pull within 53-50 late in the second half before Indiana pulled away.
Team Context and Injuries
The Tempo, playing their inaugural season, were missing Brittney Sykes (left foot) and Marina Mabrey (right adductor), who is sidelined for the final four games of the season. Laura Juskaite led Toronto with 22 points, followed by rookie Kiki Rice’s 18. Isabelle Harrison and Temi Fagbenle each scored 16.
For the Fever, Aliyah Boston was held to eight points, well below her season average of 16.9. The team shot 12-for-17 (70.6%) from the field and 12-for-12 (100%) from the free-throw line, while Toronto struggled at the line, going 19-for-30 (63.3%).
Historical Context and Emerging Talent
Mitchell’s record-breaking performance comes as Olivia Miles of the Minnesota Lynx continues to challenge WNBA rookie records. Miles, a 23-year-old rookie, has 769 points this season, one shy of Clark’s rookie mark of 769 set in 2023. Miles is considered the heavy favorite for Rookie of the Year and is also in the conversation for MVP, currently trailing A’ja Wilson.
Clark, meanwhile, remains a top candidate for MVP, having recently become the first player to record 200-plus points and 100-plus assists in a calendar month (268 points, 103 assists in August). Her historic stat line of 28 points, 14 assists, and six rebounds against Toronto marked a unique achievement in WNBA history.
The Fever return home to face the Washington Mystics on Sunday, while the Tempo conclude their season with three remaining games.