Angel Reese, Chicago Sky Should Be Thanking Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

On Monday night, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever got back on track with an 84-79 victory over the Atlanta Dream. The Fever jumped to 14-16 on the season, while the Dream fell to 10-19.

With the win, the Fever provided big help to Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky, who are also fighting for a playoff spot.

The Sky sit with a record of 11-18 on the season, holding the eighth and final seed in the WNBA Playoffs. Had the Dream pulled off a win against Indiana, they would have tied the Sky in the standings.

But since the Fever pulled off the win, the Sky still sit in sole possession of that last playoff spot and fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

The Sky have a 2-1 head-to-head record against the Dream, so had Atlanta tied them in the standings, the playoff spot would still be Chicagos to lose. But having any advantage this late in the season is optimal, and Clark and the Fever granted the Sky that with their win.

In the WNBA playoffs, eight of the 12 teams with the best records make the postseason, regardless of conference. Reese and the Sky still control their own destiny and have one game remaining against the Dream that could decide each squad's fate.

The league standings after the game are as follows:

1. New York Liberty (25-5)
2. Connecticut Sun (22-7)
3. Minnesota Lynx (22-8)
4. Seattle Storm (18-10)
5. Las Vegas Aces (18-11)
6. Phoneix Mercury (16-14)
7. Indiana Fever (14-16)
8. Chicago Sky (11-18)
9. Atlanta Dream (10-19)
10. Washington Mystics (7-22)
11. Dallas Wings (7-22)
12. Los Angeles Sparks (6-24)

Clark finished the game with 19 points on 6-of-14 shooting, seven rebounds and seven assists. She suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter, leaving some concern from fans, but returned at the start of the second.

Clark and the Fever will face one of the top teams in the league, the Connecticut Sun, in their next game on Wednesday, August 28. The Sky will have a much easier matchup on the same night as they host the Washington Mystics.

Related: Caitlin Clark Helped Off The Court After Concerning Moment In Fever-Dream

Related: WNBA Fans Demand Flagrant Foul for Caitlin Clark After Physical Play vs. Dream