The Indiana Fever defeated the Connecticut Sun 85-77 on Tuesday night at Boston’s TD Garden, a venue the Sun rented to accommodate surging demand for games featuring All-Star guard Caitlin Clark. A sell-out crowd of 19,156—the second straight year Boston has hosted a WNBA contest—watched the Fever improve to 12-10 while the Sun slipped to 3-19. Guard Kelsey Mitchell paced Indiana with 20 points, while forward Natasha Howard added 18 points and 13 rebounds. Clark, still easing back from earlier lower-body injuries, finished with 14 points, seven assists and eight rebounds on 4-for-14 shooting before leaving in the final 30 seconds holding her right leg. Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston supplied 11 points and six boards in a home-state appearance. Connecticut’s Tina Charles posted 21 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. Tuesday’s turnout followed another ratings milestone for the league: Sunday’s Fever–Dallas Wings game, featuring Clark’s first professional matchup with fellow rookie star Paige Bueckers, averaged 2.1 million viewers on ABC and peaked at 2.5 million, the network’s fourth-largest WNBA audience on record. Overall viewership on ESPN platforms is running 7% ahead of last season, and several franchises have shifted games to larger arenas to capitalize on Clark-driven demand. The Boston sell-out renewed calls for a permanent WNBA presence in the city. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey reiterated her support for a local franchise, while Sun president Jen Rizzotti confirmed the team’s owners are weighing strategic options, including a potential sale, though any relocation decision would rest with the league.
The Indiana Fever beat the Connecticut Sun 85-77 during a WNBA game in Boston. See some photos from the game. https://t.co/7dlWpwy0Nr
The Indiana Fever beat the Connecticut Sun, 85-77, at TD Garden in Boston Tuesday night. Point guard Caitlin Clark was seen clutching her leg when she exited the game late in the fourth quarter. https://t.co/RLIIfd2dWA
Caitlin Clark struggles in front of sold-out Boston Garden crowd but Fever beat Sun 85-77 https://t.co/yjplEL5iK0