Indiana Fever get back on track with chippy win over Phoenix Mercury: Highlights
The Indiana Fever got back in the win column with an 86-77 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Monday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Fever (10-7) had a four-game winning streak going before losing back-to-back games against Atlanta Dream last week.
Caitlin Clark had 24 points and nine assists in the victory to lead the Fever. She also was assessed a technical foul, her fifth of the season. Kelsey Mitchell added 22 points.
Officials assessed five technical fouls in the game after a dust-up in the fourth quarter. Sophie Cunningham, Myisha Hines-Allen and Clark got technicals for the Fever. Dewanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas got techincals for the Mercury. "It's ridiculous. I got a technical for clapping, so we should all just go on the calendar now and pick a game that I'm going to be suspended for if I'm going to get technicals for clapping," said Clark, referring to the WNBA rule that accesses a one-game suspension once a player accumulates eight technical fouls during the regular season.
"If any technical should be taken away, it should be that one... I don't understand it at all," Clark added.
WATCH: Tyrese Haliburton gives Indiana Fever an assist with stuck ballAfter the original altercation, Hines-Allen was called for a personal foul against Thomas. After the play, Hines-Allen pushed Thomas and was charged with her second technical foul, triggering an automatic ejection.
"Look, it's a competitive sport. That stuff happens. I felt like the officials did a good job after everything of getting it under control. I appreciate the way they called it after that certainly," Fever head coach Stephanie White said in her postgame press conference. "As a group, we have to be able to have our moment and then regroup and play with poise and composure. It can't continue to go on."
Kahleah Copper had 20 points to lead the Mercury (5-13). Alyssa Thomas added 19 points and nine assists.
USA TODAY Sports is provided live coverage for Monday's matchup between Phoenix and Indiana. See below:
Caitlin Clark, DeWanna Bonner exchange words
Things are getting chippy between the Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury. As the Fever led the Mercury by 19, Phoenix's DeWanna Bonner and Indiana's Caitlin Clark got tangled up while jockeying for position. Clark was called for a personal foul and both parties started exchanging words.
The altercation started between Bonner and Clark before Indiana's Myisha Hines-Allen, Indiana's Sophie Cunningham and Phoenix's Alyssa Thomas got involved in the chirping.
Offsetting technical fouls were called on Indiana's Sophie Cunningham and Phoenix's DeWanna Bonner, in addition to Indiana's Myisha Hines-Allen and Phoenix's Alyssa Thomas. Caitlin Clark was also assessed a technical foul.
Clark was assessed a technical foul. It was her fifth of the season. In the WNBA, a player is suspended for one game upon accumulating eight technical fouls during the regular season. After the initial suspension, an additional one-game suspension is triggered for every other technical foul received
End of Q3: Fever 71, Mercury 52
The Fever may have got off to a slow start, but they've had their foot on the gas pedal ever since. The Fever led by as many as 21 points in the third quarter and have a 71-52 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Kelsey Mitchell has a game-high 20 points, while Caitlin Clark is closing in on a double-double with 19 points and eight assists. Monique Billings has 10 points and nine rebounds.
Kahleah Copper has a team-high 15 points. Alyssa Thomas has 13 points and seven assists.
Halftime: Mercury 41, Fever 41
The first quarter belonged to the Phoenix Mercury, but the second quarter was all Indiana Fever. After being outscored 16-6 in the first quarter, Indiana rebounded and scored 35 points in the second to tie it up at halftime.
"First quarter was embarrassing," said Caitlin Clark, whose team shot 2-of-18 from the field in the frame. "Got to be able to space the floor, make open shots, and get downhill. I thought we did a lot better job of getting our feet in the paint. That's what allowed us to get better looks. And then we also got to free throw line, which helped as well."
Clark scored all 15 of her points in the second quarter and is shooting 5-of-11 from the field and 3-of-8 from the 3-point line on the night. Kelsey Mitchell added 11 points.
Alyssa Thomas and Kahlaeah Copper each have 11 points for the Mercury. DeWanna Bonner added seven off the bench.
Alyssa Thomas moves up all-time steals list
Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas passed Taj McWillliams-Franklin for 13th on the all-time steals list with the 581st steal of her career on Monday.
Fever called for too many players on floor
The Indiana Fever picked up a technical foul for too many players after Indiana ended six players on the court during an attempted substitution with 2:09 remaining in the second quarter. Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper made the technical free throw to come with two points of Indiana, 32-34.
Fever takes lead over Mercury
The Fever trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half, but the Fever retook the lead with 3:08 remaining. Indiana's Aliyah Boston intercepted a pass from Phoenix's Kyara Linskens and pushed it up the floor. The turnover resulted in three points for the Fever after Kelsey Mitchell knocked down a wide-open 3-pointer.
Caitlin Clark hits back-to-back 3s
Caitlin Clark is heating up from beyond the arc. She hit two 3-pointers in back-to-back possessions to send the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse into a frenzy. Clark motioned for the crowd to get even louder.
The Fever trail the Mercury 21-26 with 6:31 remaining in the second half.
Fever go on 8-0 run
The Fever are right back in it. They opened the second quarter on a 8-0 run to come within five points of the Mercury. The Fever's run was capped by a 3-pointer by Myisha Hines-Allen with 8:29 remaining in the half.
End of Q1: Mercury 19, Fever 6
The Mercury used a 19-0 run to take a 19-6 lead over the Fever into the second quarter.
The Fever opened scoring with a 3-pointer from Lexie Hull at the 9:26 mark and didn’t score again until Kelsey Mitchell ended their drought with 1.7 seconds left the first quarter. The Fever are shooting a dismal 2-of-18 from the field and 2-of-12 from the 3-point line and missed 16 consecutive field goals. They are up to seven turnovers.
The Mercury scored 14 of their 19 points in the paint. Alyssa Thomas leads the way with a game-high seven points, two assists, one steal and one block. Kyara Linskens added four points off the bench.
Phoenix's defense has been suffocating and held the Fever to a season-low six first-quarter points.
Mercury take early lead over Fever
Phoenix entered Monday's matchup fresh off a win at home. The Mercury carried that momentum into Indianapolis and jumped to a 11-3 lead over the Fever with 5:43 remaining in the first quarter. Eight of Phoenix's 11 points came in the paint. Turnovers have been a point of emphasis for the Fever, but they aren't off to a great start. Indiana has conceded six points on four turnovers.
Tyrese Haliburton helps free ball from backboard
Tyrese Haliburton to the rescue. The Indiana Pacers guard was sitting courtside at the Mercury-Fever matchup on Monday when the game ball got lodged behind the backboard in the opening minutes of the game. Haliburton jumped up and poked the ball free to much applause.
Fever vs. Mercury tips off
We're underway at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
What time is Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury?
The Indiana Fever host the Phoenix Mercury on Monday, June 22 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury: TV, streaming
- Date: Monday, June 22
- Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
- Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
- TV: USA Network
Indiana Fever starters
- Caitlin Clark
- Kelsey Mitchell
- Lexie Hull
- Monique Billings
- Aliyah Boston
Phoenix Mercury starters
- Alyssa Thomas
- Kahleah Copper
- Lexi Held
- Natasha Mack
- Noémie Brochant
Is Caitlin Clark playing today?
Caitlin Clark (back) was upgraded from probable to available for Monday's game against the Mercury.
Aliyah Boston sporting a black eye
Aliyah Boston was all smiles ahead of the Fever's matchup against the Mercury on Monday, despite a black eye. The Fever center likely picked up the shiner in the Fever's loss to the Atlanta Dream on Saturday. She took some contact to the face and had to wear a mask during the game.
Phoenix Mercury injury report
Monique Akoa Makani (left hamstring) and Sami Whitcomb (left knee) have been ruled out for Monday's game.
Mercury vs Fever prediction
Fever 92, Mercury 82: The Indiana Fever will bounce back against the Phoenix Mercury after dropping two consecutive games to the Atlanta Dream. — Cydney Henderson
Fever 88, Mercury 80: The Fever need a get-right game and the Mercury are just the team to provide it. Indiana will take advantage of the jet-lagged opponent from the West. — Heather Burns
Caitlin Clark stats
Caitlin Clark is averaging a career-high 21.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists through 15 games (all starts). Clark's 8.1 assists per game ranks second in the league, trailing Phoenix's Alyssa Thomas (8.4).
Aliyah Boston stats
Aliyah Boston is averaging 17.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists through 15 games (all starts). She's recorded double digits in all but two games this season and is up to five double-doubles on the year.
Sophie Cunningham stats
Sophie Cunningham is averaging 10.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists thought 15 games (three starts), while setting career-highs in field-goal percentage (51%) and 3-point percentage (43.8%).
Natasha Mack stats
Mack is averaging a near double-double with a career-high 9.5 points and 8.4 rebounds through 17 games (all starts). She's also averaging career-highs in field goal percentage (63%) and free throw percentage (75%).
Indiana Fever roster
| # | NAME | POS | EXP | HT | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Kelsey Mitchell | G | 8 | 5' 8" | Ohio State |
| 2 | Myisha Hines-Allen | F | 8 | 6' 1" | Louisville |
| 3 | Raven Johnson | G | Rookie | 5' 9" | South Carolina |
| 7 | Aliyah Boston | C | 3 | 6' 5" | South Carolina |
| 8 | Sophie Cunningham | G | 7 | 6' 1" | Missouri |
| 10 | Lexie Hull | G | 4 | 6' 1" | Stanford |
| 12 | Damiris Dantas | C | 12 | 6' 4" | Brazil |
| 13 | Justine Pissott | C | Rookie | 6' 4" | Vanderbilt |
| 14 | Grace VanSlooten | F | Rookie | 6' 3" | Michigan State |
| 21 | Makayla Timpson | F | 1 | 6' 2" | Florida State |
| 22 | Caitlin Clark | G | 2 | 6' 0" | Iowa |
| 23 | Bree Hall | G | 1 | 6' 0" | South Carolina |
| 25 | Monique Billings | F | 8 | 6' 4" | UCLA |
| 52 | Tyasha Harris | G | 6 | 5' 10" | South Carolina |
Phoenix Mercury roster 2026
| # | NAME | POS | EXP | HT | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noemie Brochant | F | Rookie | 5' 10" | France |
| 2 | Kahleah Copper | G | 10 | 6' 1" | Rutgers |
| 4 | Natasha Mack | F | 5 | 6' 4" | Oklahoma State |
| 5 | Shay Ciezki | G | Rookie | 5' 7" | Indiana |
| 8 | Monique Akoa Makani | G | 1 | 5' 11" | Cameroon |
| 10 | Lexi Held | G | 1 | 5' 10" | DePaul |
| 11 | Valeriane Ayayi | G | 11 | 6' 0" | France |
| 20 | Sha Carter | G | Rookie | 6' 0" | Florida Gulf Coast |
| 24 | DeWanna Bonner | G | 17 | 6' 4" | Auburn |
| 25 | Alyssa Thomas | F | 12 | 6' 2" | Maryland |
| 31 | Kyara Linskens | C | 1 | 6' 4" | Belgium |
| 33 | Sami Whitcomb | G | 9 | 5' 10" | Washington |
| 77 | Marta Suarez | F | Rookie | 6' 3" | TCU |
Caitlin Clark arrives
The Indiana Fever are in the building.
Phoenix Mercury arrivals
The Mercury has arrived at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
When do the Indiana Fever play next?
The Indiana Fever will host the Phoenix Mercury at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Monday, June 22 and Wednesday, June 24, before hosting the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday, June 27.
WNBA All-Star fan voting results
Four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, a seven-time All-Star, leads all players with 308,249 votes as of Wednesday, June 17. Wilson is averaging a league-leading 25.6 points and 2.2 blocks per game and ranks fifth in rebounding with nine per game. Dallas Wings point guard Paige Bueckers, who made her debut as an All-Star in her rookie season, is second in the voting with 298,027. Bueckers is averaging 19 and 5.8 assists a game.
Wilson and Bueckers are followed in the fan voting by Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston (282,186), New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart and Fever point guard Caitlin Clark (253,602). Full results here.
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