Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots a 3-pointer Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Caitlin Clark had 29 points and 10 assists Friday night in Indianapolis as the Indiana Fever built a comfortable early lead and held off the Phoenix Mercury for a 98-89 victory.
It was the Fever’s (12-15) first game since the Olympic break as the young team resumed its WNBA season after nearly a month off and continued its quest for a playoff spot. For the Mercury (14-13), it was the second game in a pair of back-to-back road games. Phoenix beat the Chicago Sky on Thursday night.
But against the Fever, the Mercury were not so lucky. Their lack of defensive containment against the Fever’s backcourt was one of the main reasons.
In addition to Clark’s performance, her 10th double-double of the season (in which she also grabbed five rebounds), Kelsey Mitchell added a season-high 28 points. In the frontcourt, Aliyah Boston scored 14 points and nine rebounds, while NaLyssa Smith added 13 points and nine rebounds.
For the Mercury, Kahleah Copper continued her strong performance in the gold medal game at the Paris Olympics, scoring 32 points and making 18 of 19 free throws. Natasha Cloud scored 19 points, Diana Taurasi added 16 and Brittney Griner chipped in 10.
The Fever started the game strong and took a 30-12 lead less than two minutes into the first quarter. Mitchell scored 10 points, grabbed two rebounds and made a block during that period.
Indiana continued to pile on the points in the second quarter, increasing its lead to 28 points with a 15-4 run that was sparked by a deep Clark 3-pointer assisted by Boston.
The Mercury stormed back in the third quarter with a 25-7 run to take a one-point lead on a Copper 3-pointer assisted by Cloud. The Fever pulled ahead before the end of the third quarter and then extended their lead to 13 points in the fourth.
Indiana won the rebounding battle by eight, had 23 assists on 34 baskets and outscored the Mercury 34-10 in the paint.
The final result marked the first time the Fever beat the Mercury three times in the regular season, as they swept the season series.
–Field level media
