There is a real possibility that the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty could meet in a high-octane first-round playoff series next month.
The Fever(24-13), who are 2-1 against the Liberty this year, are set to visit New York again on Saturday in their final meeting of the regular season.
So far, the home team has won all three games.
Overall, New York is on a 9-3 run since late July, but the Liberty are still dealing with the absence of Satou Sabally (concussion protocol). They could get back Leonie Fiebich (foot), who is listed as questionable for Saturday.
In addition, center Jonquel Jones injured her left ankle on Tuesday in the early minutes of a loss to Chicago, but she expects to play barring any setbacks.
“I’m taped up, and of course a little bit of aggravation,” Jones said of her ankle, “but nothing that’s crazy or that’s making me feel like I can’t go.”
The Liberty (22-15) have played just two full games at complete health.
“We’ve been through (injuries) far too many times,” said Breanna Stewart, who leads New York averaging 20.7 points. “When somebody goes down, we have to be even better.”
Meanwhile, Indiana’s five-game winning streak ended with Thursday’s 91-85 loss at Dallas.
The Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell tied her season high with 37 points in that game and set a WNBA record with her 21st straight game scoring at least 20 points. She also leads the Fever in scoring and ranks second in the league (24.6).
“I want to congratulate my team for making me look good,” Mitchell said after setting the record. “I don’t take statistics all that seriously. I want to get the dub (win), and we didn’t get that (against Dallas).”
Mitchell’s teammate Caitlin Clark leads the WNBA in assists (8.3), and she ranks third in scoring (21.7). However, Clark is coming off a poor shooting night against Dallas, as she scored just 10 points on a 4-for-15 mark.
On a positive note for the Fever, Indiana will set a franchise record for single-season wins with its next victory.
Saturday’s game could feature five players who competed in this year’s All-Star Game: Jones, Stewart, Mitchell, Clark and Indiana’s Aliyah Boston, who is averaging 16.9 points and a team-high 8.6 rebounds.
–Field Level Media
