Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) rushes up the court against Phoenix Mercury Celeste Taylor (12) on Friday, July 12, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 95-86. The Indiana Fever might have found a rhythm while superstar guard Caitlin Clark remains sidelined.
However, recording a third consecutive victory Wednesday night in Indianapolis could prove difficult against the visiting Phoenix Mercury, who could be back on track following their longest skid of 2025.
Clark has missed 13 games this season for the Fever (14-12), including the last four while officially listed as day-to-day with a groin issue. Indiana began its latest stretch minus Clark by losing back-to-back games at New York by a combined 35 points.
However, the Fever rebounded to beat Las Vegas by 10 at home, then rolled to a 93-78 victory Sunday at Chicago, which was without its own star Angel Reese. Kelsey Mitchell made seven 3-pointers and finished with 35 points for Indiana, which improved to sixth in the league standings.
“We’ve got to really be where our feet are and focus on us,” Fever coach Stephanie White said. “We have to take care of what we can control.”
Mitchell, who was banged around by the Sky, has averaged 28.3 points in the last three games and leads the team in scoring this season at 20.2 points per game. Despite icing down after that contest, she appears set to continue her hot stretch in this first meeting in 2025 with the Mercury (16-9).
Alyssa Thomas posted 27 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals on Sunday as Phoenix outscored Washington 26-12 in the third quarter en route to an 88-72 road victory that snapped its three-game losing streak. The Mercury had allowed 89 and 90 points, respectively, in their previous two games versus New York and Atlanta.
“This league is tough, and if you don’t come to play, if you don’t compete at a high level each and every night, teams are gonna go at you,” Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts said. “I loved our toughness and grit (on Sunday).”
Thomas (15.7 ppg, 9.4 apg, 8.0 rpg) has totaled 47 points, 24 rebounds and 16 assists in the last two games.
Teammate DeWanna Bonner returns to Indiana, where the six-time All-Star was released after playing nine games this season. In six games with Phoenix, where she starred for her first 10 seasons (2009-16, 2018-19), Bonner has averaged 11.5 points and 5.0 rebounds.
–Field Level Media
