INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark started fast and finished with 29 points and 10 assists while Kelsey Mitchell scored 28 points to help the Indiana Fever fend off a furious second-half rally from the Phoenix Mercury for a critical 98-89 victory on Friday night.
In the first game since the Olympic break, Mitchell made six 3-pointers and Clark had four as the Fever celebrated the restart of the WNBA season by adding another twist to the budding rivalry between Clark and three-time league champion Diana Taurasi.
Indiana swept the three-game season series with Phoenix as Clark tallied the 10th double-double of her rookie season.
Kahleah Copper, one of Phoenix’s three U.S. Olympic gold medalists, led the Mercury with 32 points and eight rebounds. The other two — Taurasi and Brittney Griner — finished with 16 points and 10 points, respectively, after scoring just 12 combined in the first half.
The rivalry was initially stoked in April when Taurasi predicted that Clark, the No. 1 overall pick, would face a rude awakening in her first pro season. Phoenix added more fuel this week with a Twitter video that included a young fan asking “Who’s Caitlin? I’m here for Taurasi,” and then there were two brief scuffles during the game.
But whether it was the fatigue of Olympic competition or returning to action with two road games in two days, Taurasi and her teammates weren’t themselves early — and it proved costly as the Mercury fell into a 48-20 deficit midway through the second quarter.
When Taurasi and Griner got going, though, the Mercury stormed back. They cut the halftime deficit to 54-37 and opened the second half on 25-7 run to take a 62-61 lead late in the third quarter.
It didn’t last. The Fever capped a quarter-closing 12-3 spurt with Katie Lou Samuelson’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer to take a 73-65 lead and never trailed again.
DREAM 83, STORM 81
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — Rhyne Howard scored a season-high 30 points, Allisha Gray added 19 and Tina Charles scored in the post with 1.1 seconds left to help Atlanta beat Seattle to snap an eight-game losing streak.
Charles finished with 16 points and Jordin Canada scored 10 points — all in the fourth quarter — to go with eight assists and three steals for Atlanta (8-17) in the first game back for both teams following a monthlong break due to the Paris Olympics.
Seattle entered the fourth quarter with a 60-55 lead, but Atlanta went on a 12-5 run to go ahead 67-65 with 5:37 to play. The Dream maintained a lead until Jewell Loyd hit a contested fall-away 3-pointer in front of the Seattle bench to make it 81-all with 4.6 seconds left. Loyd’s tying shot came after she chased down a miss from Skylar Diggins-Smith.
The Dream called timeout to move the ball into the frontcourt and Charles caught the inbounds pass on the left block, faced the basket and pulled up for a short jumper to give Atlanta the win.
SUN 109, WINGS 91
ARLINGTON, Texas — DeWanna Bonner scored a season-high 29 points, Marina Mabrey added 17 points in her debut for Connecticut and they beat Dallas Wings in the return to action for both teams after a monthlong break for the Paris Olympics.
Alyssa Thomas had 12 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds for Connecticut (19-6) while Tyasha Harris scored 14 points, Brionna Jones had 12 and Olivia Nelson-Ododa contributed 10 off the bench.
After an 8-0 start by the Wings, Thomas scored Connecticut’s first six points to spark an 11-0 run that was capped by a Bonner 3-pointer. From there, the Sun never trailed again.
Satou Sabally finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals in her season debut for Dallas (6-20). The 2023 WNBA Most Improved Player missed the first 25 games of the season due to a shoulder injury sustained while helping Germany qualify for the Olympics.
The Indiana Fever secured an impressive victory over the Phoenix Mercury in a thrilling WNBA matchup, with a final score of 87-65. The standout performance of the game came from forward Alysha Clark, who led the Fever to victory with a career-high 29 points.
Clark, who was acquired by the Fever in a trade earlier this season, has quickly made her presence felt on the court. Known for her versatility and scoring ability, Clark showcased her skills in full force against the Mercury. She shot an impressive 11-15 from the field, including 4-6 from beyond the arc, and also contributed 6 rebounds and 3 assists to the team’s effort.
The Fever as a whole put on a dominant display, shooting 52% from the field and outrebounding the Mercury 38-29. Guard Kelsey Mitchell also had a strong performance, adding 18 points and 5 assists to the team’s total.
The Mercury, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm throughout the game. Despite a solid performance from guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, who finished with 17 points and 5 assists, the team was unable to keep up with the Fever’s offensive firepower.
The win marks a significant victory for the Fever, who are currently fighting for a playoff spot in a competitive Eastern Conference. With Clark leading the charge, the team looks poised to make a strong push in the remaining games of the season.
Overall, the Indiana Fever’s victory over the Phoenix Mercury was a testament to their resilience and determination. With Alysha Clark’s standout performance and a strong team effort, the Fever proved that they are a force to be reckoned with in the WNBA.