Natasha Howard Leads Indiana to 81-76 Victory Over Atlanta

ATLANTA — Natasha Howard scored 26 points as the Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream 81-76 on Thursday night, avenging their earlier loss this week. Howard also recorded seven rebounds, tying teammate Aliyah Boston for the team high. Kelsey Mitchell contributed 17 points while Caitlin Clark added 11 points and six assists in the win.

The Fever capitalized on their inside game, outscoring the Dream 46-20 in the paint. Despite a tough shooting night from beyond the arc, Indiana managed to secure victory with key plays in the closing minutes. Kelsey Mitchell’s three-pointer with just over a minute left gave Indiana the lead for good, helping the team close the game on a 10-1 run.

Indiana’s next matchup is against the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Fever will also travel to face the Washington Mystics next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

The Dream, playing their home opener at State Farm Arena, saw Rhyne Howard lead their scoring with 24 points including three three-pointers. However, Atlanta struggled to maintain their lead in the final quarter and ultimately could not respond to Indiana’s late-game surge.

Overall, the match showcased the intense competition between both teams, highlighted by a quick exchange of points and several lead changes. The Fever quickly bounced back from an earlier loss to the Dream, showing resilience and determination in their play.

The attendance for the game was reported at 17,044, demonstrating strong support for the WNBA in Atlanta.