PHOENIX (AP) — Caitlin Clark, with an impressive tally of 15 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds, led the Indiana Fever to a dramatic 88-82 win against the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday, overcoming a significant 15-point deficit. Despite Clark’s struggles with accuracy—finishing just 4-of-14 from the field and 2-of-10 from beyond the arc—her pivotal free throws with 19.9 seconds remaining sealed the victory. Indiana’s comeback was fueled by Clark’s resilience and clutch performance.
Kelsey Mitchell’s crucial basket with 35 seconds left ensured Indiana’s lead, while her subsequent free throws with 12.9 seconds left cemented the win. Mitchell, who scored all 16 of her points in the second half, played a key role in the Fever’s resurgence.
Aliyah Boston contributed significantly with 17 points and eight rebounds, and NaLyssa Smith added 12 points and 15 rebounds. The Fever, who closed June with a 7-4 record after a challenging May, also saw a solid performance from Temi Fagbenle with 10 points.
Fever coach Christie Sides praised her team’s determination: “When the challenges came, we stepped up and we attacked them head-on. I couldn’t be more proud of my entire team.”
Kahleah Copper, who was averaging 22.7 points per game, struggled with only seven points on 3-of-15 shooting before fouling out in the final moments. Copper, tasked with guarding Clark, was a significant defensive presence but faced difficulties against the rising star.
This game marked the first matchup between Diana Taurasi and Caitlin Clark. Taurasi, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer in her 20th season, had played at Connecticut during Clark’s early years. The 22-year-old rookie Clark had idolized Taurasi since her introduction to the WNBA. Taurasi commented on Clark’s entrance to the league, noting, “It’s amazing to see what Caitlin has done. She loves the game, and there’s been a lot thrown at her, but she keeps improving every game. Her future is super bright.”
Phoenix initially dominated with an 8-0 lead and held a 49-38 advantage at halftime, with Griner and Taurasi each contributing 13 points. However, the Fever staged a 17-0 run in the third quarter to briefly lead by 10 points. Phoenix managed to close the gap to 67-64 by the end of the period.
Boston highlighted their strategy, saying, “We were emphasizing getting out and running, moving the ball, and getting good shots.” Taurasi acknowledged Phoenix’s difficulties, stating, “We maybe settled too much, got stagnant. They were running faster than us.”
The game saw its share of physicality, including two skirmishes during the first half. Griner received a technical foul in the first quarter, and additional confrontations resulted in technical fouls for Fagbenle and Erica Wheeler of Indiana, and Copper and Cloud of Phoenix. Smith was later assessed a flagrant-1 foul against Taurasi, and Cloud received a flagrant-1 for a foul on Katie Lou Samuelson, who made both free throws, narrowing the gap to 78-77 with 2:17 remaining.
