The Indiana Fever will host the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, August 16, at 7:30 p.m. ET, marking the kickoff of the WNBA’s second half of the regular season. This game comes as Indiana resumes play following the Olympic break, while the Mercury recently celebrated a commanding 85-65 victory over the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena.
In that match, Kahleah Copper shined with 29 points upon her return to Chicago, and Brittney Griner contributed significantly with 23 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and five blocks. Copper excelled by hitting 12 of 19 shots in her first contest against Chicago since her trade in February.
During the Olympic hiatus, Fever guard Kristy Wallace and the Australian national team secured a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Prior to the Olympics, Fever players Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, and Kelsey Mitchell showcased their skills by competing in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game against the U.S. Women’s National Team on July 20 in Phoenix. Their team emerged victorious, defeating Copper, Griner, and Diana Taurasi’s squad 117-109. The trio collectively contributed 21 points and 12 assists, with Mitchell posting 13 points and Clark marking her place in history as the third rookie in franchise history to start an All-Star Game. Clark also achieved a playoff-high of 10 assists during her 26 minutes on the court.
On another notable note, Copper, Griner, and Taurasi recently played a pivotal role in the USA Women’s National Team winning its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal by edging out France 67-66 in the final match. Copper, coming off the bench, scored 12 points, including 10 crucial points in the final quarter to clinch the win.
This Friday’s clash will be the last meeting of the regular season between Indiana and Phoenix. The Fever currently lead their series 2-0, having secured four consecutive victories against the Mercury dating back to last year. Previously, Indiana triumphed over Phoenix 88-82 on June 30, with key contributions from Boston, Clark, Mitchell, and forward NaLyssa Smith, who all scored in double digits. Their last encounter on July 12 resulted in a 95-86 win for Indiana, where Mitchell led with 28 points, and the Fever dominated in paint points, outscoring Phoenix 60-28.