Fever snap record 20-game losing streak with win over Dream

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This article was published 28/05/2023 (1221 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ATLANTA (AP) — NaLyssa Smith scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to help the Indiana Fever end a WNBA record-tying 20-game losing streak with a 90-87 win over the Atlanta Dream on Sunday.

The Fever (1-2) had lost 20 in a row dating back to last season to tie the Tulsa Shock for the most consecutive losses all-time. Indiana lost its final 18 games last season before dropping its first two this year.

The game featured seven ties and 20 lead changes and the outcome was hanging in the balance when the Fever had a successful coach’s challenge with 16.7 seconds left while holding an 88-87 lead.

After an Indiana miss, Alyssa Gray took the long rebound quickly downcourt and drove on Kelsey Mitchell. A foul was called but Fever coach Christie Sides challenged it. After a review, officials determined there wasn’t enough contact to warrant a foul.

Indiana got the ball out of bounds and after a miss, Mitchell snared the offensive rebound and was fouled. She made two free throws with 13.2 seconds left and Rhyne Howard was well off the mark for an Atlanta 3-pointer in the closing seconds.

Howard led Atlanta (1-2) with 23 points, Cheyenne Gray had 21 and Gray 19.

ACES 94, LYNX 73

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jackie Young scored 23 points, including four 3-pointers, Chelsea Gray added 19 points and 10 assists and the Aces beat the Lynx.

The Aces (4-0) tied the franchise record for consecutive wins to open a season. The organization, which started as the Utah Starzz (1999-2005) before moving to San Antonio (2006-17) and finally relocating to Las Vegas in 2018, also won its first four games of the 2011 season.

Minnesota (0-4) has lost its first four games in each of the last three seasons.

Napheesa Collier had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota and Tiffany Mitchell added 16 points. Diamond Miller, picked No. 2 overall in the 2023 WNBA draft, scored a season-high 14 points.

SKY 94, WINGS 88

CHICAGO (AP) — Marina Mabrey had season highs with 23 points and eight assists, Alanna Smith had her first career double-double and the Sky beat the Wings.

Smith scored six of her 14 points in the final two-plus minutes and finished with 12 rebounds and six assists — both career highs.

Kahleah Copper scored 16 points, Dana Evans 14 and Courtney Williams had 12 with 11 rebounds and five assists for Chicago. Sika Kone, a 20-year-old rookie, had 10 points and six rebounds. The 6-foot-3 forward was a third-round pick by the New York but was waived by Liberty on May 16.

Crystal Dangerfield hit a 3-pointer to give Dallas (2-1) a 71-70 lead early in the fourth quarter but Evans answered with a pull-up jumper and then a fadeaway, Copper put back her own miss before Smith made a jumper to cap a 9-0 spurt with 6:46 to play and the Sky led the rest of the way.

Arike Ogunbowale scored 27 points and Satou Sabally had 24 points and eights rebounds for Dallas.

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