CHICAGO — The Phoenix Mercury witnessed Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever surge ahead in the playoff standings.

Clark achieved a career-high of 31 points, surpassing her previous best by one, helping the Fever clinch a 100-81 victory over the Chicago Sky on Friday night. This win pushed Indiana to sixth place in the eight-team playoff bracket. They share a 16-16 record with the Mercury but have the edge in tiebreakers, having defeated Phoenix in all three matchups this season.

“It’s remarkable how we kicked off the season and now we’re sitting at sixth with eight games left,” Clark said, referring to the Fever’s challenging start of 1-8. “But we need to keep executing down the stretch.”

Although there are still many games left in the season, the Fever’s early struggles and their favorable upcoming schedule offer hope. Of their final eight games, only three are against teams with winning records, and just two are away games.

Since 2016, the Fever has not qualified for the playoffs, which was when Clark was still in her freshman year of high school.

This season, Clark and the Fever have consistently played in front of sold-out crowds, but Friday’s game had a particularly electrifying atmosphere. The matchup between Clark’s Fever and Angel Reese’s Sky has turned into one of the most exciting rivalries in the WNBA this season, sparking significant interest.

WNBA icons Sue Bird and Shaquille O’Neal attended the game along with players from the Chicago Bulls and Bears. The average ticket price reached $334, making it the priciest game in WNBA history, according to TickPick.

Anticipating the high interest, the Sky organized the WNBA’s inaugural Barbie-themed night during this match.

However, Clark and the Fever dampened the celebration with a dominating performance. This win marked Indiana’s third consecutive victory and their fifth in the last six games, securing the season series against Chicago by winning three out of four encounters.

“Winning the season series was our focus,” Clark expressed. “Last time we were here, we had a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter but let it slip away. This was another chance to show our capabilities, and I felt we performed well.”

“Honestly, I had a blast playing. I believe we played with a lot of joy.”

Caitlin Clark’s Performance Summary

Clark concluded the game with 31 points, marking her third game this season with 30 or more points. She achieved 8 of 14 shooting, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc. Additionally, she recorded 12 assists, earning her 11th double-double of the season, alongside a triple-double previously this year.

Perhaps the most satisfying statistic for Clark is her three turnovers, just one shy of her season low.

“She did a fantastic job managing the ball,” stated Fever coach Christie Sides. “This is a clear sign of her growth. Early in the season, those were issues we struggled with, but now she is recognizing what to improve.”

The Fever’s next matchup is on Sunday against the Dallas Wings.