FOUR RECORDS. NO CLARK. NO PROBLEM. THE FEVER JUST BECAME THE TEAM NOBODY WANTS TO PLAY.

The date was August 1st, and the Indiana Fever were staring down a familiar question:
Can they win without Caitlin Clark?

She was out—again. Groin injury. No timetable. No miracle return. The arena was packed, Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings were ready to pounce, and the Fever were on the verge of fading.

Instead?
They flipped the WNBA on its head.

A Fever Dream Turned Reality

This wasn’t just a win. This was a statement, a symphony, and a full-blown coming-out party for a team that had every excuse to crumble—and chose dominance instead.

The scoreboard read 88–78, and yet the number that really mattered was four:
Four franchise records broken.
All without Caitlin Clark.

And who led the charge?

Not the stars.
Not the headlines.
But two players who weren’t even on the roster when the season began.

Ary McDonald & Khloe Bby: From No Contracts to Fever Legends

Let’s start with Ary McDonald—the guard nobody wanted to start the year.

She signed a hardship contract. Just a depth piece, they said.

Fast forward six weeks and she’s the third-fastest player in franchise history to reach 150 points and 50 assists, trailing only Caitlin Clark and Tamika Catchings. Elite company? Try sacred.

Against Dallas, Ary poured in 15 points, dished 6 assists, and controlled the tempo like a seasoned general. Her speed, vision, and poise were unmatched.

“She’s a blessing in disguise,” Kelsey Mitchell said postgame. “She gets it.”

And then there’s Khloe Bby.

A 7-day contract signing turned into a rest-of-season steal. In her first three games, Bby hit multiple three-pointers in each—setting a franchise record.

She didn’t just hit shots—she opened up the floor, spacing the defense and creating room for the bigs to work inside.

Coach Stephanie White said it best:

“We haven’t had that. She gave us exactly what we needed.”

Boston & Howard: WNBA History Made

Now let’s talk frontcourt dominance.

Aaliyah Boston and Natasha Howard didn’t just ball out.
They made WNBA history.

They became the first duo in league history to record:

10+ points

10+ rebounds

5+ assists

2+ steals
…in the same game.

Let that marinate.

Boston finished with 12/11/5/3, while Howard posted 11/16/5/2. They were unstoppable on both ends. Howard’s 16 rebounds? A career high. Boston’s fifth straight double-double? Franchise-changing consistency.

This wasn’t just stat-padding. This was winning basketball. This was championship DNA.

Kelsey Mitchell: The Engine That Never Stops

Let’s not forget Kelsey Mitchell, the long-time leader who’s finally getting the spotlight she deserves.

She scored 23 points on 9-of-19 shooting, pushed the tempo, and kept Dallas guessing on every possession. Her performance marked her 13th game this season with 20+ points, the most in the WNBA since the All-Star break.

Mitchell is doing what stars are supposed to do: carry the weight when others are down. She’s not flashy. She’s not loud. She’s just relentlessly elite.

Paige Bueckers Couldn’t Save Dallas

On the other side, Paige Bueckers had herself a respectable game: 22 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. She was the only Wings player in double figures.

But the Fever defense swallowed the rest of the Dallas roster whole.
Especially D.J. Carrington, the reigning Most Improved Player, who scored just 4 points and coughed up 5 turnovers.

This wasn’t Paige vs. Caitlin.
This was the Fever versus the narrative—and they crushed it.

The Records, One by One

Let’s break down the four records set in one incredible night:

WNBA First:
Boston & Howard become the first teammates in league history with 10+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 2+ steals in a single game.

Franchise Scoring Streak:
Kelsey Mitchell now leads the WNBA in 20-point games post-All-Star break, with her 13th on the season.

Historic Start:
Khloe Bby sets a Fever record by hitting multiple threes in each of her first three games.

Fast Company:
Ary McDonald becomes the third-fastest Fever player to reach 150 points and 50 assists—behind only Catchings and Clark.

That’s not a fluke.
That’s a foundation.

A Subtle Shot at Bonner?

During postgame interviews, Kelsey Mitchell made a point to praise Ary McDonald for “stepping up” when “people that were on the team, weren’t on the team anymore.”

Read between the lines: DeWanna Bonner, who was released earlier this year, was supposed to be the veteran leader. Instead, it’s been mid-season pickups—like Ary and Bby—who’ve actually delivered.

The Fever used the cap space from Bonner’s departure to sign players who wanted to be in Indiana.
Now those players are leading the most exciting run the franchise has seen in a decade.

No Clark, No Problem — For Now

Caitlin Clark is close to returning. And when she does?
This team, which already looks dangerous without her, becomes downright terrifying.

The chemistry built in her absence wasn’t just survival—it was evolution.

Coach White said it best:

“This group has been resilient all season long.”

They’re now four games above .500 for the first time since 2015.

And they’re doing it the right way—with depth, heart, and real chemistry.

2025 and Beyond: This Is Just the Beginning

Think about this:

You’ve got a franchise point guard in Caitlin Clark.

A dominant post duo in Boston and Howard.

A lights-out shooter in Bby.

A floor general revelation in McDonald.

And a proven scorer in Mitchell.

Now add playoff experience. Add continuity. Add hunger.

This team is built for a run. Not just this year. But next year. And the next.

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The Fever are no longer just a fun story. They’re a problem.
For everyone else.