ANOTHER FOURTH-QUARTER MELTDOWN: Indiana Fever Collapse Late as Los Angeles Sparks Snatch 85-75 Victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

The Indiana Fever’s growing pains continued on Thursday night in front of a restless home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, as they faltered down the stretch in an 85-75 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. It was yet another frustrating chapter in a season that has featured moments of promise, but ultimately, the same recurring theme: an inability to close out games when it matters most.

For three quarters, the Fever looked competitive, energetic, and in sync with their young core showing flashes of their potential. But when the fourth quarter arrived, the wheels came off, and the experienced Sparks pounced on every opportunity to steal a much-needed road win.

It was a tale of two halves for Indiana, who led by as many as eight points early in the third quarter. The Fever were aggressive defensively, forcing turnovers, contesting shots, and pushing the pace in transition. The home crowd, eager to see their team snap a two-game losing skid, roared as Indiana went toe-to-toe with the Sparks, with rookie sensation Caitlin Clark delivering electrifying plays and Aliyah Boston battling in the paint.

However, the fourth quarter exposed the Fever’s lingering issues: late-game execution, turnovers, and defensive breakdowns.

The final period began with the game tied at 61, but it quickly unraveled for the Fever. Los Angeles outscored Indiana 24-14 in the fourth, fueled by a combination of veteran poise, timely three-point shooting, and suffocating defense. The Sparks’ backcourt duo of Kia Nurse and Lexie Brown orchestrated the offense masterfully, repeatedly finding gaps in Indiana’s defensive coverage.

Nurse led all scorers with 19 points, including three critical three-pointers in the fourth quarter that silenced the crowd and swung momentum squarely in favor of the visitors. Brown added 15 points and six assists, while Dearica Hamby provided a steady inside presence with 16 points and 11 rebounds, notching yet another double-double in her impressive campaign.

On the Fever’s side, Clark finished with 18 points and five assists but struggled with turnovers late, coughing up the ball twice in crucial possessions that led to Sparks baskets. Aliyah Boston recorded a solid double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds but was limited offensively in the final minutes, often double-teamed as the Sparks collapsed their defense inside.

Fever head coach Christie Sides did not mince words in her postgame remarks, expressing disappointment with her team’s inability to close out games despite competing for three solid quarters.

“We’ve talked about it over and over,” Sides said. “You can’t win games in this league if you don’t execute under pressure, and right now, we’re not doing that. The effort is there, the talent is there, but we’re beating ourselves when it matters most.”

Indeed, the Fever’s turnovers proved costly once again, with Indiana committing 17 on the night, including six in the fourth quarter alone. Many of those giveaways led directly to fast-break points for the Sparks, who capitalized on Indiana’s mistakes with clinical efficiency.

Another glaring issue for the Fever was their perimeter defense. Los Angeles connected on 11-of-26 shots from beyond the arc, with Nurse and Brown doing most of the damage. Indiana’s defensive rotations were slow, allowing the Sparks to find open looks, particularly when the Fever attempted to double-team in the post.

“Communication and discipline have to be better,” veteran Kelsey Mitchell said after the game. “We can’t afford to lose track of shooters or miss assignments, especially late in games. The good teams make you pay for that every time.”

Mitchell, one of Indiana’s most reliable offensive weapons, struggled to find her rhythm against the Sparks’ physical defense, finishing with 11 points on just 4-of-13 shooting. Her frustration was evident, as missed shots and defensive lapses piled up in the closing minutes.

Despite the loss, there were positive takeaways for the Fever. Clark’s playmaking continues to develop, and her ability to create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates shows signs of progress. Boston remains a force on the boards, and NaLyssa Smith provided energy off the bench with 10 points and six rebounds.

But moral victories only go so far, and the Fever’s record reflects their inability to translate potential into results. Thursday’s loss dropped Indiana to 4-11 on the season, with several of those defeats coming in games where they held late leads or were within striking distance entering the final quarter.

For the Sparks, the win marks an important step forward in their own quest to climb the Western Conference standings. After a rocky start to the season, Los Angeles has now won back-to-back games, improving to 6-8 and gaining momentum behind their experienced core.

“It’s about staying composed and believing in our system,” Sparks head coach Curt Miller said postgame. “We’ve got leaders who’ve been in these situations, and tonight, they showed why that experience matters.”

The Sparks controlled the tempo in the fourth quarter, patiently working through their offensive sets and exploiting Indiana’s defensive breakdowns. Hamby’s physicality inside created second-chance opportunities, while Nurse and Brown stretched the floor, keeping the Fever defense off-balance.

Los Angeles also won the rebounding battle, 38-32, limiting Indiana’s ability to generate extra possessions. That physical dominance on the glass, coupled with precise execution, proved to be the difference as the Sparks pulled away late.

For Indiana, the challenge now is finding consistency and learning how to execute under pressure. The young roster, headlined by Clark and Boston, has shown glimpses of what the future could look like — but the present remains a work in progress.

Sides emphasized patience but acknowledged that learning how to win in the WNBA requires more than talent alone.

“We have to grow up fast,” Sides said. “There are no easy nights in this league. Every opponent is experienced, skilled, and well-coached. We can’t afford to keep making the same mistakes.”

The Fever will look to regroup quickly, with another tough matchup looming against the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday. The schedule does not ease up, but opportunities for growth remain.

The atmosphere at Gainbridge Fieldhouse reflected both hope and frustration. Fans cheered passionately as the Fever competed but groaned as another late-game lead slipped away. The support for the young team is unwavering, but the expectation for improvement is clear.

For Clark, the transition to the professional level continues to be a learning experience. Her dazzling court vision and scoring ability have captivated fans, but the physicality and defensive intensity of the WNBA present new challenges.

“I’m learning every game,” Clark said postgame. “The pace, the decision-making, it’s all part of the process. I hate losing, but we’ll keep working, keep fighting.”

The Fever’s struggles in close games are a reminder of how difficult it is to build a winning culture overnight. But with a talented core and passionate fanbase, Indiana remains hopeful that the lessons from these tough losses will eventually lead to success.

As the season unfolds, the Fever must find a way to finish games with the same intensity and focus that they show in the early quarters. Until then, growing pains and late-game collapses may continue to define their journey. But the foundation is being laid, and brighter days could be on the horizon — if Indiana can finally learn how to close.