Mystics vs Fever Live Score, TV Channel & Prediction: Caitlin Clark Battles Elena Delle Donne in High-Stakes WNBA Showdown

The Indiana Fever host the Washington Mystics tonight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the third meeting of a four-game regular-season series that is tied 1-1. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ION, with both teams desperate for momentum as the playoff race tightens. Form guide • Fever (18-15) have cooled off after a red-hot July, dropping three of their last four—including a one-point heart-breaker to the Dallas Wings on Tuesday—yet still cling to third place in the East. • Mystics (14-18) have lost four of five and sit 3½ games behind Indiana, making tonight a virtual “four-point game” for seeding implications. Star watch • Kelsey Mitchell is coming off a 24-point explosion and now averages a career-best 20.0 ppg while shooting 45.4 percent from the floor. The shifty guard torched Washington for 18 in the June victory and is the focal point of Indiana’s dribble-drive attack. • Brittney Sykes leads Washington at 15.4 ppg and spearheads a pressure defense that ranks top-three in steals (7.8). Her ability to hound Mitchell and ignite the break will be pivotal. • Rookie phenom Caitlin Clark (ankle) remains out until at least Aug. 26, forcing Fever coach Christie Sides to lean heavily on veteran Erica Wheeler for playmaking duties. Key matchups 1. Paint battle: Aliyah Boston vs. Shakira Austin’s replacements. With Austin (hip) sidelined, Indiana should have an interior edge. Boston averages 8.6 boards; if she owns the glass, Washington faces a long night. 2. Perimeter pace: The Fever push the second-fastest tempo in the league. The Mystics must turn this into a half-court game, where their 3-2 zone can clog driving lanes. 3. Bench punch: Washington’s bench scores just 16.4 ppg, last in the WNBA. Indiana’s second unit erupted for 33 in its last home win; another spark could tilt momentum early. Playoff calculus A Fever win would move them within striking distance of the second-place Liberty and all but lock in home-court advantage for the first round. A Mystics upset would slice the gap to 2½ games and give Washington the head-to-head tiebreak entering September. Odds and lines ESPN BET lists Indiana as an 8½-point favorite with a 162½ total. The Mystics have covered three straight on the road, while the Fever are 6-2 ATS in their last eight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. How to watch and stream National TV: ION Streaming: WNBA League Pass, Fubo, DirecTV Stream (free trials available) Radio: SiriusXM Ch. 86, WTEM 980 AM (DC), WIBC 93.1 FM (Indy) What’s at stake • Series lead: The clubs split two early-season meetings, each winning on its home court. Tonight’s victor seizes the tiebreak heading into the Sept. 7 finale. • Momentum: Both teams enter on losing skids, but the Fever are 10-7 at home; Washington is just 5-11 away. • Star power: With Clark sidelined, the spotlight shifts to Boston vs. Sykes—two All-Star candidates looking to anchor late-season surges. Stat nuggets • Indiana ranks 1st in offensive rebounding rate (32.7 percent) but 11th in transition defense; Washington scores 18.3 points per game off turnovers, most in the league. • The Mystics’ three-point attempt rate has jumped to 41 percent since the All-Star break; they hit 15 triples in their May win over Indiana. • Fever rookie Celeste Taylor is averaging 10.4 ppg over the last five, nearly double her season mark. Prediction If Washington’s backcourt forces turnovers and Burrell stretches the floor, the Mystics can steal one. But without a healthy Austin, Boston’s inside dominance and Indiana’s home-court edge should prevail. Fever 86, Mystics 78. Search-friendly takeaway Fans searching for “Mystics vs Fever time,” “how to watch Mystics vs Fever,” “Kelsey Mitchell vs Brittney Sykes,” or “WNBA playoff standings update” will find tonight’s matchup pivotal—and potentially season-defining—for two Eastern Conference rivals vying for postseason positioning.