The Indiana Fever rebounded from their prior loss to the Washington Mystics with a victory over the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday night, securing their second consecutive win against the Mercury.
Despite being down by 23 points at the start of the fourth quarter, the Mercury fought back with a 16-4 run and managed to close the gap to just four points. This effort was made without their star players Diana Taurasi, who was out due to injury, and Brittney Griner, who left the game in the second quarter. The Fever ultimately secured a 95-86 win, thanks to standout performances from four of their five starters.
Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 28 points. Aliyah Boston contributed with a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds, Caitlin Clark added a double-double with 20 points and 13 assists, and NaLyssa Smith also posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
This marks the first time since 2016 that the Fever have won the season series against the Mercury. Indiana has one more game against Phoenix set for after the Olympic break on August 16.
Here are three key observations from the game:
Fever Overcome Shorthanded Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury arrived in Indianapolis already undermanned, with guards Diana Taurasi, Sug Sutton, and Charisma Osborne ruled out a day early. Their absence left the Mercury with just eight available players, leading to the quick addition of former Fever guard and 2024 No. 15 draft pick Celeste Taylor for backcourt support. Taylor had only a brief shootaround with the team before the game.
The situation worsened for Phoenix when Natasha Cloud was a late scratch, leaving them with only seven players. An early collision saw Brittney Griner exit the game in the first quarter. With just six available players, the Mercury relied heavily on Kahleah Copper and Rebecca Allen, the only two starters who were available for the entire game. Copper played 35 minutes and scored 36 points, while Allen added four points in 25 minutes.
Caitlin Clark Sets Single-Quarter Assist Record
Fever rookie Caitlin Clark made headlines with her impressive playmaking, achieving a franchise record of seven assists in the first quarter. She ended the quarter with five points and continued to dominate throughout the game, finishing with 20 points, 13 assists, and six rebounds. Clark has been averaging 12 assists per game in July and her season average is 7.6, just behind Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun.
NaLyssa Smith Returns to Starting Lineup
NaLyssa Smith returned to the Fever’s starting lineup after a one-game absence due to a “team matter.” Her return saw Katie Lou Samuelson move back to the 3 spot. Smith played 34 minutes, contributing 14 points and 10 rebounds, helping secure the Fever’s win.
Clark scored 20 points, shooting 8-of-16 from the field, including 2-of-7 from beyond the arc. She also tallied 13 assists, six rebounds, and had six turnovers.