The Indiana Fever rebounded from their loss to the Washington Mystics with a win over the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday night, marking their second consecutive victory against Phoenix.
Despite trailing by 23 points entering the fourth quarter, the Mercury embarked on a 16-4 run and cut the deficit to just four points. This comeback effort came even as the team missed key players Diana Taurasi (injured) and Brittney Griner (who left the game in the second quarter with an injury and did not return). The Fever held on to secure a 95-86 victory, thanks to standout performances from four of their five starters.
Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 28 points. Aliyah Boston recorded 21 points and 13 rebounds, Caitlin Clark added 20 points and 13 assists, and NaLyssa Smith contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds, each securing double-doubles.
This win marked the first time since 2016 that the Fever won the season series against the Mercury. The Fever have one more game against Phoenix, scheduled for August 16 after the Olympic break. Currently, the Fever are 10-14 with two games remaining before the break.
Here are three observations from the game:
Fever Overcome Undermanned Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury were severely short-handed, missing guards Diana Taurasi, Sug Sutton, and Charisma Osborne. This left them with only eight available players. To bolster their roster, the Mercury signed former Fever guard Celeste Taylor on Friday morning. Taylor had only practiced with the team for an hour before the game.
Natasha Cloud was a late scratch due to a knee injury, leaving Phoenix with seven players to start the game. The number dropped to six after Brittney Griner injured her hip in the first quarter and did not return. Despite the limited roster, Kahleah Copper and Rebecca Allen played significant minutes, with Copper posting a game-high 36 points.
Celeste Taylor, who had been with the Mercury for less than 12 hours, played meaningful minutes against her former team, finishing with five assists, three rebounds, two steals, and a +10 plus-minus rating.
Caitlin Clark’s Assist Prowess
Caitlin Clark showcased her playmaking abilities in the first quarter, tallying seven assists and setting a Fever franchise record for most assists in a quarter. By the third quarter, she had secured her fifth consecutive points-assists double-double, approaching Courtney Vandersloot’s WNBA record of six in a row. In July, Clark is averaging 12 assists per game and is second in the league for the season with an average of 7.6 assists per game.
NaLyssa Smith’s Return to the Starting Lineup
NaLyssa Smith returned to the starting lineup after a one-game absence due to a “team matter,” according to coach Christie Sides. In her absence against the Mystics, the Fever struggled and lost to one of the league’s weaker teams. Smith played 34 minutes upon her return, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, helping the Fever to their win over the Mercury.
Caitlin Clark finished the game with 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting (2-of-7 from three-point range), along with 13 assists, six rebounds, and six turnovers.