- Caitlin Clark’s 29 points, 10 assists lead Fever to 98-89 win
- Indiana dominated early, held off Mercury’s third-quarter rally
- Fever’s strong paint presence, rebounding, secured season sweep
Caitlin Clark had 29 points and 10 assists Friday night in Indianapolis, helping the Indiana Fever build a comfortable lead early and hold off the Phoenix Mercury for a 98-89 win.
It was the Fever’s (12-15) first game since the Olympic break, as the young squad returned to the WNBA season after nearly a month off to continue its pursuit of a playoff spot. The Mercury (14-13) were playing the second of two road games in a row.
However, the Mercury did not do as well against the Fever. Their lack of defensive containment against the Fever’s backcourt contributed significantly to their defeat.
In addition to Clark’s 10th double-double of the season, which included five rebounds, Kelsey Mitchell contributed a season-high-tying 28 points. Aliyah Boston led the frontcourt with 14 points and nine rebounds, while NaLyssa Smith added 13 points and nine rebounds.
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For the Mercury, Kahleah Copper’s excellent play from the gold medal game at the Paris Olympics continued as she scored 32 points and went 18-for-19 from the foul line. Natasha Cloud scored 19 points, Diana Taurasi added 16, and Brittney Griner contributed 10.
The Fever jumped out to a 30-12 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter. Mitchell finished with 10 points, two rebounds, and a block during that time.
In the second quarter, Indiana increased its advantage to 28 points with a 15-4 run spurred by Clark’s deep three-pointer, which Boston assisted on.
The Mercury rallied in the third quarter, going on a 25-7 run to grab a one-point lead thanks to a 3-pointer from Copper, assisted by Cloud. The Fever regained the lead before the end of the third quarter, and they extended it to as many as 13 points in the fourth.
Indiana dominated the rebounding battle by eight, recorded 23 assists on 34 made baskets, and outscored the Mercury 34-10 in the paint.
The Fever swept the season series, becoming the first team to beat the Mercury three times in a row during the regular season.
