The Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream 95-91 in overtime on August 16 at State Farm Arena. Allisha Gray led all scorers with 32 points for Atlanta, while Caitlin Clark led Indiana with 26 points and 9 assists.
Atlanta had multiple opportunities to win late in regulation. Rhyne Howard missed a 3-pointer, Angel Reese grabbed the rebound but missed a putback attempt, and Naz Hillmon missed a final shot before the horn.
Before tipoff, footage showed Atlanta players were not on the court during the U.S. national anthem while Indiana players were on the floor. The game averaged 2.6 million viewers on ESPN, becoming one of the most-watched WNBA broadcasts in history.
Fever rally to beat Atlanta in overtime
Atlanta led 72-64 after 3 quarters, but Indiana outscored the Dream 17-9 in the 4th quarter to force overtime. The Dream took an 83-81 lead early in the extra period before Indiana responded with a decisive scoring run.
Makayla Timpson scored Indiana’s first 3 field goals of overtime and finished with a career-high 20 points. Caitlin Clark added 26 points and 9 assists.
Indiana won 95-91, improving to 23-12 at the time and strengthening its position in the WNBA standings. The game averaged 2.6 million viewers on ESPN.
Angel Reese misses a potential game-winning putback
With the score tied 81-81 late in regulation, Rhyne Howard missed a 3-pointer on Atlanta’s final possession. Angel Reese grabbed the offensive rebound but missed a putback attempt, and Naz Hillmon missed a final shot before the buzzer sounded.
The game went to overtime, where Indiana completed the comeback. Reese finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists despite the late-game miss.
Atlanta’s official recap confirmed that Howard, Reese and Hillmon each had a chance during the final possession.
Caitlin Clark finishes with 26 points and 9 assists
Clark finished Indiana’s overtime win with 26 points and 9 assists, leading the Fever in scoring. Makayla Timpson and Kelsey Mitchell each added 20 points as Indiana completed the comeback victory.
With Atlanta trailing 93-91 late in overtime, Clark made 2 free throws with 9.8 seconds remaining to extend Indiana’s lead to 95-91. The Fever held on for the win.
The victory marked Indiana’s 4th consecutive win and improved the Fever’s record to 23-12 at the time. The matchup again featured Clark and Reese, who entered the WNBA in the same 2024 draft class.
Atlanta Dream players were absent from the court during the national anthem
Footage from the August 16 game showed Atlanta Dream players were not on the court during the U.S. national anthem, while Indiana Fever players were on the floor. Sophie Cunningham was shown standing with her hand over her heart.
The WNBA’s rules require players, coaches, and trainers to stand in a dignified posture along the sideline or foul line during the anthem. The league had not publicly announced a disciplinary response regarding Atlanta’s pregame decision.
The moment drew attention because WNBA teams previously used anthem absences as part of organized demonstrations during the 2020 season.
Fun fact: Reese set a WNBA rookie record for consecutive double-doubles in 2024.
Anthem footage draws online reaction
Footage showing Indiana players on the court and Atlanta players absent during the national anthem circulated after the August 16 game. The moment generated discussion about the WNBA’s anthem policies and the league’s history of player demonstrations.
The WNBA’s rulebook outlines expectations for anthem participation, while reactions to Atlanta’s absence varied among fans and commentators.
The game also attracted a large television audience, averaging 2.6 million viewers on ESPN and drawing significant attention beyond the court.
WNBA anthem protests date back to 2020
WNBA players previously remained off the court during the U.S. national anthem as part of organized demonstrations. During the 2020 season, teams including the New York Liberty and Seattle Storm used anthem demonstrations to highlight racial justice issues.
A separate pregame moment involving Angel Reese featured “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a song often referred to as the Black national anthem. The moment was separate from the U.S. national anthem.
Clark-Reese matchups continue to draw large audiences
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese both entered the WNBA in 2024. Indiana selected Clark with the No. 1 overall pick, while Chicago selected Reese with the No. 7 pick. Their professional matchups have consistently attracted national attention.
Their college teams also met in major NCAA tournament games. Reese and LSU defeated Iowa in the 2023 national championship game, while Clark and Iowa defeated LSU in the 2024 Elite Eight.
The August 16, 2026, matchup between Indiana and Atlanta, featuring Clark and Reese, averaged 2.6 million viewers on ESPN and attracted one of the largest audiences in WNBA history.
What comes next for Indiana and Atlanta
Indiana is scheduled to visit the New York Liberty on August 22 and the Chicago Sky on August 23. Atlanta is scheduled to visit the Phoenix Mercury on August 22 and the Los Angeles Sparks on August 24. Both teams remain in contention for postseason positioning
The August 16 game completed the 4-game regular-season series between Indiana and Atlanta, which ended in a 2-2 tie. The teams are not scheduled to meet again during the regular season, so another 2026 matchup would require them to meet in the playoffs.
The teams are not scheduled to meet again in the regular season and could face each other again only in the playoffs. Any additional 2026 meeting would have to occur in the playoffs.
TL;DR
- The Indiana Fever beat the Atlanta Dream 95-91 in overtime on August 16.
- Allisha Gray led all scorers with 32 points, while Caitlin Clark led Indiana with 26 points and 9 assists.
- Angel Reese missed 1 potential game-winning putback before Naz Hillmon missed Atlanta’s final attempt.
- The Atlanta Dream stayed in the locker room during the national anthem, a practice dating back to 2020.
- The Clark and Reese rivalry continues to draw major national attention across the league.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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