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Ice cold Melbourne catches Fever in Indiana
Kelsey Mitchell #0 of the Indiana Fever dribbles the ball while defended by Jade Melbourne #5 of the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 4, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Highlights
Washington Mystics fall to 3-5 to start the 2025 WNBA season
- Opals point guard Jade Melbourne struggled from the field against Indiana Fever
- The Fever are still without WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark
- How to watch every 2025 WNBA game in Australia
Australian Jade Melbourne missed all of her field goal attempts as the the Indiana Fever (3-4) rolled the Washington Mystics (3-5) 85-76 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
Melbourne was 0-from-5 from the field, including 0-from-2 threes. She had two rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench, finishing -9.
Kelsey Mitchell's 24-point performance helped the Fever secure their third win of the season.
Key Details
- Result: Indiana Fever 85 def. Washington Mystics 76
- When: June 4, 2025
- Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
- Standings
By the Numbers
- Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana) starred with 24 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals in 32 minutes.
- Kiki Iriafen (Washington) scored 20 points and had nine rebounds in 27 minutes.
What Happened
The opening quarter saw a tightly contested battle with Indiana edging Washington 19-18. The Fever maintained their slight advantage in the second quarter, outscoring the Mystics 19-16 to take a 38-34 lead into halftime. Lexie Hull's contribution was notable for the Fever, providing steady offense throughout the first half.
The third quarter proved decisive as Indiana exploded for 31 points while limiting Washington to 21. Kelsey Mitchell caught fire during this stretch, connecting on several three-pointers to help the Fever build a comfortable 69-55 lead. The Mystics struggled to contain Indiana's perimeter shooting, particularly Mitchell who finished 4-from-7 from beyond the arc.
Washington showed resilience in the final period, outscoring Indiana 21-16, but the deficit was too large to overcome. Brittney Sykes and Kiki Iriafen led the comeback attempt, combining for 40 points on efficient shooting, with Iriafen particularly impressive at 9-from-11 from the field.
Indiana's balanced attack featured five players scoring at least seven points. Lexie Hull added 14 points and four assists while shooting an efficient 6-from-9 from the field. Aliyah Boston contributed 10 points on perfect 5-from-5 shooting along with four assists and one block. The Fever's ball movement was exceptional, resulting in 21 assists compared to Washington's 12.
The Fever's defense proved effective, forcing 15 Mystics turnovers while committing only eight of their own. Indiana capitalised on these opportunities, turning Washington's mistakes into transition points. The Fever's three-point shooting was a significant factor, connecting on 11-from-28 attempts (39.3%) compared to Washington's dismal 1-from-10 (10%).
