Full speed ahead: Mitchell continues scoring tear as Indiana Fever earn road win

ATLANTA -- It would be difficult to find a WNBA guard with a quicker first step than Kelsey Mitchell. 

Her exceptional speed, mixed with a motor that does not stop, fuels the Indiana Fever offense. 

Mitchell went into the Olympics break averaging 16.9 points per game. With time off to recharge her batteries, the Fever’s Energizer Bunny has taken her game to a new level, scoring 21 or more points in four consecutive contests. 

Her latest offensive outburst came Monday night against the Atlanta Dream. Mitchell scored a season-high 29 points as Indiana held on late to secure a 84-79 win. She finished 10-for-23 from the field and added seven rebounds. 

“For me, it is about being confident in my play but (also) playing alongside my teammates and kind of letting the chemistry flow. I think when I find my spots and utilize my team to find those spots, I look decent,” said Mitchell, who was the second overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. “I think for us it is about playing our tempo. I like to play that way (fast) and I have teammates who like to play that way.”

Atlanta missed two 3-point attempts in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter, which would have tied the game at 82-all. However, a turnover after a long offensive rebound ended the comeback effort with 6.5 seconds to play. 

Following an Indiana timeout, Mitchell was fouled and hit two free throws to set the final score at 84-79.

Atlanta, which trailed by 18 points early in the second half, dropped to 10-19 with the loss. 

On Saturday, Mitchell scored 21 points in a loss to Minnesota -- her lowest point total since the break. She had 28 points against Phoenix on Aug. 16 and 27 points against Seattle two days later. 

Her recent play is a major reason why the Fever (14-16) are currently No. 5 in ESPN’s WNBA Power Rankings. 

“Going forward, it’s going to be important that we stay together and stay focused from game to game, not necessarily looking at the playoffs,” Mitchell said. 

Also for Indiana on Monday, Caitlin Clark tallied 19 points, seven assists and seven rebounds while Aliyah Boston recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Damiris Dantas added 11 points in 10 minutes of action off the bench. 

The Dream were led by veteran Tina Charles, who finished with a season-high 28 points on 13-for-21 shooting from the field.

The Fever are back in action Wednesday at home against the Connecticut Sun. The Sun are 22-7 this season and currently second in the league standings. 

On Friday, Indiana will travel to Chicago to battle the Sky (11-18) before another road contest on Sunday against the Dallas Wings (7-22). The Sky and Wings are eighth and eleventh in the league standings, respectively. 

Beth Prince State Farm Player of the Game: Kelsey Mitchell for scoring a season-high 29 points, including the game-sealing free throws with five seconds to play in the fourth quarter. 

Notes: Indiana starter Katie Lou Samuelson has not been feeling well, according to Fever head coach Christie Sides, and took herself out of Monday’s game at halftime. … Lexie Hull started the second half in her place and contributed two points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. … Clark made four threes against the Dream and is now tied for the most made 3-point field goals by a rookie in WNBA history (85). … Boston, now in her second season, is just five points away from reaching 1,000 career points. … NaLyssa Smith grabbed six rebounds Monday, which moved her past Natalie Achonwa for sixth on the Fever all-time rebounds list (764). … Indiana’s 14 regular season wins are the most for the franchise since 2016.