In a highly anticipated showdown, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever clinched a hard-fought victory over the Phoenix Mercury, prevailing 88-82 in front of a packed arena in Phoenix.
The game was characterized by intense competition and physical play, showcasing standout performances from key players on both teams.
Sunday’s game marked Clark’s debut against the Mercury, offering local fans in Phoenix their first live look at the rookie sensation.
It also marked the first on-court meeting between Clark and veteran Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi. Clark, known for her admiration of Taurasi, shared a pregame moment with Taurasi and Mercury center Brittney Griner.
Indiana struggled early in the first quarter, shooting just 12.5% and falling behind by as many as 13 points. However, they rallied to narrow the gap, ending the quarter 28-20 in favor of Phoenix. The Mercury maintained their lead into halftime, heading to the locker room up 49-38.
The Fever surged in the third quarter, overtaking Phoenix with a 67-64 lead going into the final frame. Phoenix responded, reclaiming the lead in a tightly contested final quarter. Crucial baskets from Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell helped Indiana secure and maintain their lead down the stretch.
The victory marked a significant achievement for Indiana, particularly as they played away amid a fervent home crowd.
The game was marred by physicality, resulting in numerous fouls on both sides. The tension escalated in the second quarter, culminating in technical fouls for Mercury’s Brittney Griner following an altercation with Indiana’s Aliyah Boston. Both teams received additional technical fouls later in the game after a heated exchange.
Indiana accumulated 24 fouls and two technical fouls, while Phoenix amassed 25 fouls and three technical fouls, with each team also receiving a flagrant foul.
Phoenix displayed resilience, highlighted by Brittney Griner’s 24-point performance, complemented by 19 points from Diana Taurasi and 15 points, along with seven assists from Natasha Cloud.
Aliyah Boston led the Fever with 17 points, supported by NaLyssa Smith’s 12 points and 15 rebounds. Despite being scoreless in the first half, Kelsey Mitchell finished with 16 points.
Clark’s stat line included 15 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a historic triple-double. Her 12 assists surpassed the Fever’s rookie franchise record, totaling 138 assists across 20 games.
Following the game, Diana Taurasi praised Clark for her performance.
With the win, Indiana improves to 8-12 for the season, while Phoenix moves to 9-9. The Fever conclude their five-game road stretch against the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Phoenix faces a quick turnaround with a home game against the Connecticut Sun on Monday at 10 p.m. ET.
