Another sold out crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse packed the arena in downtown Indianapolis to witness the Indiana Fever take on the Phoenix Mercury on July 12. The Fever emerged victorious, beating the Mercury 95-86.
The Fever led by as much as 31 points. However, Indiana let Phoenix score 36 points in the final twelve minutes.
Fever head coach Christie Sides was proud yet critical of her squad following the game.
“We are just constantly trying to get better,” Sides said. “That is our goal. The goal is to get better. We haven’t been in this position where we were up 31 [points], they cut it [the lead] to six. That is unacceptable.”
Three Fever players, forward Aliyah Boston and guards Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark, scored more than 20 points in the contest. Mitchell led the squad with 28 points, Boston scored 21 and Clark notched 20.
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“I think that we are limitless,” Mitchell said. “The chemistry that we have and we are developing, you can’t tell that we are young. We are just trying to figure it out day by day.”
Fittingly, the Fever’s ‘big three’ — Clark, Mitchell and Boston — will represent Indiana in this year’s All-Star Game in Phoenix, AZ on July 20.
“Overall, I thought we played three quarters of really good basketball,” Clark said. “I like four [good] quarters, not three [good] quarters.”
Clark also threw 13 dimes, tying the franchise record for most assists in a game for the third time in her short career. Clark’s performance catapulted her to first in the league for assists per game.
Mercury center Brittney Griner left the game with a groin injury in the first half. Guard Kaleah Copper scored a game-high 36 points.
“There was a lot on her shoulders tonight,” Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said of Copper. “She gave us a chance.”
Copper is a member of the 2024 USA Women’s National Team and will participate in this year’s Olympics in Paris.
Three weeks ago, The Indiana Fever released guard Celeste Taylor, who was drafted this year alongside Clark. On the morning of July 12, Taylor signed a seven-day contract with the Mercury, getting the chance to take on her former team later that evening.
Clark pointed out how matching up against Taylor was for the first time in the WNBA.
“It was kind of weird,” Clark said. “I am happy for her. She was a heck of a teammate.”
The Fever return home following the Olympic break on Aug. 16, where they will once again take on the Mercury.
“Our goal is to make the playoffs, and we took care of business tonight,” Sides said.
Contact multi-media & senior sports reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral.
