Caitlin Clark scores 29 to help Fever fend off Mercury rally in 98-89 win before sellout crowd
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Caitlin Clark looked re-energized after taking a month off for the WNBA Olympic break.
The Phoenix Mercury’s three U.S. Olympic team members couldn’t keep up with her Friday night.
Clark scored 13 of her 29 points in the first quarter, added 10 assists and four 3-pointers and helped the Indiana Fever fend off Phoenix's furious second-half rally to restart the season with a critical 98-89 victory.
“You knew they were going to come in here with a lot of confidence, with three people that have won gold medals,” said Clark, who was left off the Olympic roster. “You know their confidence is really high and I thought we came out and really set the tone.”
It wasn't just Clark, who posted her 10th double-double of the season, either.
Kelsey Mitchell made six 3-pointers and finished with 28 points and Aliyah Boston outplayed Brittney Griner, finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds as the Fever swept the three-game season series to add even more fuel to the budding rivalry between Clark and three-time WNBA champion Diana Taurasi.
The barbs began in April when Taurasi predicted Clark, the No. 1 overall draft pick, would face a rude awakening in her first pro season. Phoenix stoked the fire again this week with a Twitter video that included a young fan asking, “Who’s Caitlin? I’m here for Taurasi.”
Twice during the game brief scuffles broke out, including one between Mitchell and the Mercury's Natasha Cloud that resulted in double technical fouls. The other involved Griner and Boston.
But whether it was Indiana (12-15) being motivated by the chance to face three Olympians, having a chance at their first season sweep of any team since 2020 or the Mercury dealing with the fatigue of the Paris Games followed by two road games in two days, Taurasi and her teammates certainly weren’t themselves early.
It proved costly as the Mercury (14-13) fell into a 48-20 deficit midway through the second quarter.
“I think you can see it in their faces, you know, they're tired,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said. “There's going to be better days, for sure. We've just got to understand these games are going to come quick here, but I know all three of them are ready to sleep in their own beds.”
While one Olympic gold medalist, Kahleah Copper, finished with 32 points and eight rebounds, Phoenix’s other two - Taurasi and Griner - combined for just 12 points in the first half. Taurasi wound up with 16 points, but Griner had 10 points and four rebounds and dealt with foul trouble.
Still, the weary trio found a way to spur a comeback. Phoenix 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.
After Clark returned, the Fever rebounded thanks to Mitchell's deft shooting and a Katie Lou Samuelson buzzer-beating 3-pointer to take a 73-65 lead. The Fever never trailed again in front of another sellout crowd.
“Yeah, it was pretty fun. I think we came out with a lot of energy,” Clark said with a smile when asked about the fast start. “I think there's times where we could have crumbled, but we just kept battling and fighting and I thought it was a really good one for us.”
Former Fever star and Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings addressed the crowd during a first quarter timeout to celebrate the city's selection as next season's All-Star Game host. Catchings will be one of five co-chairs on the local organizing committee.
The league announced Indiana's selection Wednesday. The game will be played July 19. Phoenix hosted this year's All-Star weekend. Indiana hosted the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.
Before tipoff, the Fever paid tribute to the late Jim Morris, former vice chairman of Pacers Sports & Entertainment and an instrumental figure in the Fever franchise. He died in mid-July. Following a video, the Fever unveiled Morris' banner in the rafters.
He's the ninth player, coach or executive to be so honored and the first to have been honored for both the Fever and Pacers franchises.
Mercury: Hosts the Chicago Sky on Sunday.
Fever: Hosts the Seattle Storm on Sunday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 1st Quarter | |||
10:00 | Jump Ball: Aliyah Boston vs. Brittney Griner. | |||
9:44 | NaLyssa Smith misses a layup. | |||
9:44 | Kahleah Copper with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:24 | Kahleah Copper misses a jump shot from 15 feet out. | |||
9:24 | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:06 | Caitlin Clark misses a 3-point jump shot from 32 feet out. | |||
9:06 | NaLyssa Smith with an offensive rebound. | |||
8:57 | Kelsey Mitchell misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
8:57 | Aliyah Boston with an offensive rebound. | |||
8:54 | +2 | Aliyah Boston makes a tip shot. | 0-2 | |
8:33 | Katie Lou Samuelson steals the ball from Brittney Griner. | |||
8:21 | +2 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a layup. Aliyah Boston with the assist. | 0-4 | |
8:09 | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
8:09 | Aliyah Boston with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:57 | +2 | Aliyah Boston makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 0-6 | |
7:56 | Mercury take a full timeout. | |||
7:40 | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a jump shot from 12 feet out. Sophie Cunningham with the assist. | 2-6 | |
7:25 | Aliyah Boston misses a layup. | |||
7:25 | Aliyah Boston with an offensive rebound. | |||
7:14 | +3 | Caitlin Clark makes a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. NaLyssa Smith with the assist. | 2-9 | |
7:03 | +2 | Kahleah Copper makes a jump shot from 14 feet out. | 4-9 | |
6:53 | +2 | Caitlin Clark makes a layup. | 4-11 | |
6:53 | Shooting foul committed by Kahleah Copper. | |||
6:53 | +1 | Caitlin Clark makes free throw 1 of 1. | 4-12 | |
6:42 | Offensive foul committed by Diana Taurasi. | |||
6:42 | Diana Taurasi is charged with a turnover due to a foul. | |||
6:29 | +2 | NaLyssa Smith makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 4-14 | |
6:10 | Kelsey Mitchell blocks a Diana Taurasi layup. | |||
6:10 | Mercury with an offensive rebound. | |||
6:04 | +2 | Diana Taurasi makes a layup. | 6-14 | |
5:58 | +2 | Caitlin Clark makes a layup. | 6-16 | |
5:58 | Shooting foul committed by Brittney Griner. | |||
5:58 | Technical foul committed by Diana Taurasi. | |||
5:58 | +1 | Caitlin Clark makes free throw technical. | 6-17 | |
5:58 | +1 | Caitlin Clark makes free throw 1 of 1. | 6-18 | |
5:39 | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. | |||
5:39 | Katie Lou Samuelson with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:30 | +2 | NaLyssa Smith makes a layup. Katie Lou Samuelson with the assist. | 6-20 | |
5:07 | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
5:07 | NaLyssa Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:55 | Sophie Cunningham steals the ball from Caitlin Clark. | |||
4:49 | Kahleah Copper misses a layup. | |||
4:49 | NaLyssa Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:37 | Caitlin Clark misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | |||
4:37 | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:24 | Natasha Cloud misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
4:24 | Kelsey Mitchell with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:17 | +2 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a jump shot from 14 feet out. | 6-22 | |
4:00 | Brittney Griner misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
4:00 | Kelsey Mitchell with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:42 | Aliyah Boston misses a hook shot from 8 feet out. | |||
3:42 | Fever with an offensive rebound. | |||
3:41 | Substitution: Erica Wheeler in for Aliyah Boston. | |||
3:41 | Substitution: Damiris Dantas in for Caitlin Clark. | |||
3:41 | Substitution: Natasha Mack in for Brittney Griner. | |||
3:41 | Substitution: Mikiah Herbert Harrigan in for Diana Taurasi. | |||
3:38 | Natasha Cloud steals the ball from NaLyssa Smith. | |||
3:29 | NaLyssa Smith blocks a Natasha Mack layup. | |||
3:29 | Erica Wheeler with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:21 | Kelsey Mitchell misses a 3-point jump shot from 22 feet out. | |||
3:21 | Mikiah Herbert Harrigan with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:06 | +3 | Mikiah Herbert Harrigan makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 9-22 | |
2:44 | +3 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | 9-25 | |
2:29 | Shooting foul committed by Erica Wheeler. | |||
2:29 | +1 | Kahleah Copper makes free throw 1 of 3. | 10-25 | |
2:29 | +1 | Kahleah Copper makes free throw 2 of 3. | 11-25 | |
2:29 | Substitution: Lexie Hull in for Katie Lou Samuelson. | |||
2:29 | +1 | Kahleah Copper makes free throw 3 of 3. | 12-25 | |
2:14 | +2 | NaLyssa Smith makes a layup. Damiris Dantas with the assist. | 12-27 | |
1:59 | Natasha Cloud misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
1:59 | NaLyssa Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:39 | +3 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | 12-30 | |
1:20 | Offensive foul committed by Kahleah Copper. | |||
1:20 | Kahleah Copper is charged with a turnover due to a foul. | |||
1:20 | Substitution: Aliyah Boston in for Kelsey Mitchell. | |||
1:20 | Substitution: Caitlin Clark in for NaLyssa Smith. | |||
1:20 | Substitution: Sug Sutton in for Natasha Cloud. | |||
1:07 | Damiris Dantas misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | |||
1:07 | Kahleah Copper with a defensive rebound. | |||
47.8 | Shooting foul committed by Lexie Hull. | |||
47.8 | +1 | Kahleah Copper makes free throw 1 of 2. | 13-30 | |
47.8 | +1 | Kahleah Copper makes free throw 2 of 2. | 14-30 | |
36.6 | Lexie Hull misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
36.6 | Kahleah Copper with a defensive rebound. | |||
28.8 | Kahleah Copper misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
28.8 | Erica Wheeler with a defensive rebound. | |||
19.4 | +3 | Caitlin Clark makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Damiris Dantas with the assist. | 14-33 | |
0.0 | +2 | Kahleah Copper makes a jump shot from 19 feet out. | 16-33 | |
0.0 | End of the 1st Quarter |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 2nd Quarter | |||
9:47 | Shooting foul committed by Damiris Dantas. | |||
9:47 | +1 | Brittney Griner makes free throw 1 of 2. | 17-33 | |
9:47 | +1 | Brittney Griner makes free throw 2 of 2. | 18-33 | |
9:33 | +3 | Caitlin Clark makes a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. Aliyah Boston with the assist. | 18-36 | |
9:19 | Kahleah Copper misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | |||
9:19 | Damiris Dantas with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:13 | Lexie Hull misses a layup. | |||
9:13 | Diana Taurasi with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:05 | Offensive foul committed by Brittney Griner. | |||
9:05 | Brittney Griner is charged with a turnover due to a foul. | |||
9:05 | Substitution: Natasha Cloud in for Sug Sutton. | |||
8:46 | Damiris Dantas misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
8:46 | Kahleah Copper with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:33 | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
8:33 | Damiris Dantas with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:18 | Substitution: Kelsey Mitchell in for Lexie Hull. | |||
8:18 | Substitution: NaLyssa Smith in for Damiris Dantas. | |||
8:18 | Substitution: Sug Sutton in for Kahleah Copper. | |||
8:18 | Substitution: Sophie Cunningham in for Natasha Mack. | |||
8:15 | Caitlin Clark misses a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. | |||
8:15 | Aliyah Boston with an offensive rebound. | |||
8:12 | +2 | Aliyah Boston makes a layup. | 18-38 | |
7:58 | Erica Wheeler steals the ball from Natasha Cloud. | |||
7:52 | +2 | NaLyssa Smith makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 18-40 | |
7:52 | Shooting foul committed by Sophie Cunningham. | |||
7:52 | +1 | NaLyssa Smith makes free throw 1 of 1. | 18-41 | |
7:37 | Sug Sutton misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | |||
7:37 | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:26 | Aliyah Boston misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | |||
7:26 | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:17 | Sophie Cunningham misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
7:17 | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:11 | +2 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 18-43 | |
7:10 | Mercury take a full timeout. | |||
6:57 | +2 | Natasha Cloud makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. | 20-43 | |
6:38 | Shooting foul committed by Brittney Griner. | |||
6:38 | +1 | Aliyah Boston makes free throw 1 of 2. | 20-44 | |
6:38 | Substitution: Kahleah Copper in for Brittney Griner. | |||
6:38 | Substitution: Natasha Mack in for Sug Sutton. | |||
6:38 | +1 | Aliyah Boston makes free throw 2 of 2. | 20-45 | |
6:15 | Kahleah Copper misses a jump shot from 22 feet out. | |||
6:15 | Aliyah Boston with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:57 | +3 | Erica Wheeler makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Aliyah Boston with the assist. | 20-48 | |
5:41 | Kahleah Copper misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | |||
5:41 | Natasha Mack with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:35 | Sophie Cunningham misses a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | |||
5:35 | Erica Wheeler with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:26 | Caitlin Clark misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
5:26 | Natasha Mack with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:13 | Natasha Cloud misses a jump shot from 19 feet out. | |||
5:13 | Natasha Mack with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:08 | +3 | Natasha Cloud makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Natasha Mack with the assist. | 23-48 | |
4:51 | Natasha Mack blocks a Aliyah Boston layup. | |||
4:51 | Sophie Cunningham with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:43 | +3 | Diana Taurasi makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | 26-48 | |
4:33 | Fever take a full timeout. | |||
4:30 | Natasha Mack blocks a NaLyssa Smith layup. | |||
4:30 | Fever with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:19 | +2 | NaLyssa Smith makes a jump shot from 8 feet out. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 26-50 | |
3:52 | Natasha Cloud misses a jump shot from 12 feet out. | |||
3:52 | Aliyah Boston with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:47 | Personal foul committed by Sophie Cunningham. | |||
3:34 | +2 | Aliyah Boston makes a layup. Erica Wheeler with the assist. | 26-52 | |
3:18 | Sophie Cunningham misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | |||
3:18 | NaLyssa Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:59 | NaLyssa Smith misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
2:59 | Diana Taurasi with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:47 | Erica Wheeler blocks a Kahleah Copper 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | |||
2:47 | Kahleah Copper with an offensive rebound. | |||
2:39 | +3 | Natasha Cloud makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Sophie Cunningham with the assist. | 29-52 | |
2:22 | NaLyssa Smith misses a layup. | |||
2:22 | Kahleah Copper with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:04 | +3 | Natasha Cloud makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Kahleah Copper with the assist. | 32-52 | |
1:45 | Kelsey Mitchell misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
1:45 | Natasha Mack with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:40 | Shooting foul committed by Caitlin Clark. | |||
1:40 | +1 | Kahleah Copper makes free throw 1 of 2. | 33-52 | |
1:40 | Substitution: Damiris Dantas in for NaLyssa Smith. | |||
1:40 | Substitution: Lexie Hull in for Aliyah Boston. | |||
1:40 | Substitution: Katie Lou Samuelson in for Erica Wheeler. | |||
1:40 | Substitution: Mikiah Herbert Harrigan in for Sophie Cunningham. | |||
1:40 | +1 | Kahleah Copper makes free throw 2 of 2. | 34-52 | |
1:21 | +2 | Damiris Dantas makes a jump shot from 21 feet out. Kelsey Mitchell with the assist. | 34-54 | |
1:05 | +3 | Diana Taurasi makes a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. Kahleah Copper with the assist. | 37-54 | |
54.2 | Damiris Dantas misses a jump shot from 14 feet out. | |||
54.2 | Diana Taurasi with a defensive rebound. | |||
44.9 | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | |||
44.9 | Damiris Dantas with a defensive rebound. | |||
31.0 | Damiris Dantas misses a jump shot from 12 feet out. | |||
31.0 | Mikiah Herbert Harrigan with a defensive rebound. | |||
03.8 | Kahleah Copper misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
03.8 | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | End of the 2nd Quarter | |||
2:39 | +3 | Natasha Cloud makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Sophie Cunningham with the assist. | 29-52 |