Barbie Night Turns into “Fever Night” as Indiana Demolishes Chicago – Without Caitlin Clark
It was supposed to be a celebration – Chicago Sky’s biggest Barbie Night yet, complete with pink decor, themed merchandise, and all the hype centered around Angel Reese. But things quickly unraveled. Reese didn’t play, and instead of a night of glamour, Chicago witnessed a nightmare: a 93–78 beatdown by the Indiana Fever – their third straight loss to them this season.
The Fever entered the United Center – a special venue chosen by the Sky just for this game – and walked out with a dominating win. No Caitlin Clark? No problem. Kelsey Mitchell stepped up in a major way, dropping a season-high 35 points and reminding everyone that this so-called “rivalry” is a myth. Because when you look at the actual results, it’s been all Indiana.
Despite the media’s attempts to paint this matchup as the next Magic vs. Bird – ESPN hyping up Clark vs. Reese, Iowa vs. LSU, Indiana vs. Chicago – the truth is painfully clear. Indiana has now beaten the Sky in six of their last seven games. This season alone, the Fever has outscored Chicago by 77 points across three meetings: a 35-point blowout, a 27-point rout, and now, a 15-point dismantling on Chicago’s most anticipated night.
Even with Clark sidelined, Indiana’s depth shined. Chloe Bibby, signed just days earlier on a 7-day contract, scored 8 points in 10 minutes. Rookie Michaela Timpson delivered her best performance yet with 14 points on 75% shooting. And Aaliyah Boston? She logged her third straight double-double, adding 14 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks – a complete masterclass.
Kelsey Mitchell was the star of the night, torching the Sky with 7 three-pointers and becoming only the second Fever player in history – alongside Clark – to record 35+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ threes in a single game. Her offseason work, including training with a football coach to improve lateral movement, paid off in full. Every cut was sharp. Every shot was clean.
As if the loss wasn’t enough, Chicago’s entire promotional effort backfired spectacularly. The event, meant to elevate Angel Reese’s Barbie image, turned into a full-on Fever celebration. Social media lit up with fans renaming it “Fever Night,” mocking the pink-themed blowout and empty seats. Memes flooded TikTok and Twitter, with fans even suggesting the game be renamed “Mitchell Night” after her incredible performance.
The most ironic part? Caitlin Clark, dressed in street clothes, dominated the arena’s energy without even playing. She signed over 200 autographs, moving across two-thirds of the United Center as fans clamored for her attention – not Reese’s. The cheers were louder for Indiana. The support more visible. It felt more like a Fever home game than a Sky showcase.
And when it came time to analyze what went wrong, Sky head coach Tyler Marsh admitted it plainly: teams have figured them out. Their game plans aren’t being executed. The same mistakes keep happening. The team lacks preparation and confidence. Star rookie Cardoso played well with 12 points and 7 rebounds, but that wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding.
Even Sky players like Rachel Bham admitted to a “screw it” mentality going into the game – a clear sign of a team that’s mentally checked out. Their record now drops to 7–18, playoff hopes fading, while Indiana improves to 14–12, just two games behind Atlanta and firmly in the playoff race.
And let’s be honest: whether or not Angel Reese had played, the result likely wouldn’t have changed. This isn’t a rivalry. It’s target practice. The Fever have shown they can win with or without Clark, at home or on the road, during regular matchups or themed nights.
Clark’s influence, even off the court, is undeniable. She stayed long after warmups to interact with fans, signing autographs, taking photos – giving people the memories they came for, even if she wasn’t playing. That’s star power. That’s leadership. And that’s why, when she returns – likely in mid-August – the Fever will be an even more dangerous threat.
This isn’t just a good team with a superstar. This is a deep, cohesive, battle-tested unit capable of making serious playoff noise. And after what we just witnessed in Chicago, one thing is certain:
The Indiana Fever aren’t chasing hype. They’re building something real.
