The Indiana Fever snapped their 20-game losing streak, which had tied a WNBA record, with a 90-87 win over the host Atlanta Dream on Sunday.
Indiana (1-2), which also ended a five-game losing streak against the Dream, matched the 20 straight losses set by the defunct Tulsa Shock during the 2011 season. The Fever had not won a game since June 19, 2022.
NaLyssa Smith led six Indiana players in double-figure scoring with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell had 15 points, Aliyah Boston 13, Erica Wheeler 11 and Kristy Wallace and Queen Egbo posted 10 apiece.
Rhyne Howard finished with 23 points and Cheyenne Parker had 21 to lead Atlanta (1-2). Allisha Gray contributed 19 points.
The game had 20 lead changes and seven ties.
Howard made a driving layup with 1:21 left to cut Indiana’s lead to 86-85.
After both teams traded empty possessions, Smith made a floater in the lane to increase the Fever lead to 88-85 with 49 seconds remaining.
Howard then made two free throws on Atlanta’s ensuing possession.
Gray rebounded a miss, dribbled the distance and drew a whistle on Mitchell while going to the basket with 16 seconds left. But the call was reversed after a challenge by the Fever, who gained possession of the ball.
Mitchell was fouled and made two free throws with 13.2 seconds left to give Indiana the 90-87 margin. Howard air-balled a 3-point attempt as time expired.
Atlanta had two opportunities early to pull away from Indiana, but the Fever rallied back both times.
The Dream built a 19-9 lead in the first quarter, but the Fever rallied to tie the game at 32 with 4:34 left in the second quarter.
Atlanta again gained separation with a 47-38 lead with 1:47 remaining in the first half and led 47-41 at halftime.
After the Dream grew the lead to eight early in the third quarter, Indiana went on a 14-5 run to take a 55-54 lead with 4:48 left in the period.
Wheeler, who played with the Dream last season, had two 3-pointers in the run, including one that completed the stretch.
–Field Level Media
