Mitchell scores 27, Clark has 21 points and 14 assists, and the Fever beat the Tempo 113-91

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kelsey Mitchell scored 27 points on 9-of-11 shooting, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston each had a double-double, and the Indiana Fever beat the Toronto Tempo 113-91 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight victory.

Clark finished with 21 points and 14 assists, and Boston had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Sophie Cunningham came off the bench to add a season-high 24 points with six 3-pointers.

Laura Juskaite led Toronto (7-8) with 19 points and Marina Mabrey added 18. Maria Conde scored 12, Isabelle Harrison and Brittney Sykes each had 11 and Kia Nurse added 10.

Indiana (9-5) set a franchise record for points in regulation, shooting 52% from the field, including 13 of 30 on 3-pointers, and 28 of 33 at the free-throw line.

Mitchell and Cunningham combined for 21 of Indiana's 32 points in the third quarter, while Toronto scored just 23. All nine of Cunningham's points in the frame came on 3-pointers.

Cunningham made Indiana’s 10th 3-pointer with 7.4 seconds left in the third for an 85-73 lead and added another to begin the fourth for a 15-point advantage. She finished 6 of 7 from 3-point range and Mitchell went 3 for 4.

Sykes was helped off the court in the first half with an apparent leg injury and did not return. Julie Allemand (headache) was also limited to just 11 minutes. The Tempo were already without Nyara Sabally (hamstring) and Kiki Rice (left ankle).

Toronto: Plays at Connecticut on Friday.

Indiana: Hosts Atlanta on Thursday.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/WNBA-basketball

Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey (3) shoots over Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston (7) in the second half of a WNBA Commissioner's Cup basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, right, drives on Toronto Tempo guard Julie Allemand (22) in the first half of a WNBA Commissioner's Cup basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, right, drives on Toronto Tempo forward Laura Juskaite in the first half of a WNBA Commissioner's Cup basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, right, shoots around Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey, center, in the first half of a WNBA Commissioner's Cup basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers increased their spending in May as temperatures warmed and gasoline prices cooled.

Retail sales rose a better-than-expected 0.9%, up from a revised 0.4% gain in April, according to new Commerce Department data released Wednesday. Sales got a boost from generous government tax refunds in both April and May, though economists say that cushion is starting to fade.

Excluding sales at gas stations, retail sales in May rose 0.7%.

Sales at at clothing and accessories stores rose 0.3%, while business at home furnishing and furniture stores rose 1%. Business at electronics and appliance stores fell 0.5%. Online sales rose 1.5%.

The data released Wednesday offers only a snapshot of consumer spending and doesn’t include activities like travel and hotel stays. The lone services category – restaurants – registered a 0.1% decline.

Consumers are the engine of the American economy, driving most of the nation’s economic growth. Their spending has remained resilient so far this year despite rising prices and lackluster hiring.

Rising gas prices pushed inflation to its highest level in three years, U.S. data showed last week, with consumer prices rising 4.2% in May, compared with last year.

There is a tentative deal to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but even after oil starts flowing again from the Middle East it could take awhile for the supply crunch to ease.

Gas prices fell about a penny overnight to $4.02, down 11% from $4.51 a month ago, according to motor club AAA. The national average for a gallon of gasoline has not been below $4 since March, according to AAA.

“While the deal is encouraging, our industry is still holding its breath,” said Steve Lamar, the CEO of trade group American Apparel & Footwear Association. ”Our question now is, will this agreement be strong enough for our global industry to begin recovering?”

The spike in gas prices this year due to the Iran war may alter some behavior, peace deal or not. Analysts say

And even as gas prices come down, some analysts believe some shoppers will keep some of the habits they picked up as prices soared, like filling up the car at big box stores where they can get discounts.

Visits to gas stations operated by big box chains like BJ’s, Costco and Sam’s Club, which offer discounts to members, began to accelerate in early March, aligning with a sharp rise in fuel prices, said R.J. Hottovy, the head of analytical research at Placer.ai, which tracks people’s movements based on cellphone usage.

FILE - A customer prepares to pump diesel fuel at this Madison, Miss., Sam's Club, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

FILE - A employee works at a cash register in a grocery store in Schaumburg, Ill., Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)