The Phoenix night was alive with electricity as the Phoenix Mercury soared to their fifth consecutive victory, dispatching the indomitable Indiana Fever 85-79 in a clash that pulsed with playoff implications and raw emotion.
In a game heavy with postseason stakes, it was Alyssa Thomas who emerged as the Mercury’s engine, pouring in 23 points while flirting with a triple-double—grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out nine assists. Her relentless energy set the tone for Phoenix, who are now locked in a dramatic three-way tie for second place alongside Las Vegas and Atlanta, all three teams sitting at 26-14 as the regular season races to its conclusion. DeWanna Bonner, the former Fever forward now embraced by Mercury fans, came off the bench with 19 points, stoking the flames of a rivalry that has grown more personal with every meeting.
Yet, it was Kelsey Mitchell who stole the spotlight early, scorching the Mercury defense for 15 of her 29 points in the first quarter alone. With laser-like precision from beyond the arc—5-of-9 on threes—Mitchell nearly single-handedly kept Indiana in the fight, especially as the Fever’s offense sputtered at times. Lexie Hull added 18 points and five rebounds, while Aliyah Boston contributed 11 points, eight boards, and seven assists, but the Fever’s hopes dimmed as the Mercury closed the first half on a blistering 12-3 run, building a daunting 15-point halftime lead.
The Mercury’s surge was punctuated by Monique Akoa Makani’s clutch three-pointer just before the buzzer, the PHX Arena crowd erupting as Phoenix seized all momentum. Natasha Mack controlled the glass with 10 rebounds, and Satou Sabally (13 points), Kahleah Copper (11), and Sami Whitcomb (10 points, seven assists) rounded out a balanced Mercury attack.
While the Fever mounted a late charge, closing the deficit in the fourth quarter, Phoenix’s poise under pressure proved insurmountable. Indiana now finds itself clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot, their margin for error razor thin with three games left in the regular season.
Off the court, the drama simmered as well. Star rookie Caitlin Clark missed her 19th straight game due to a lingering right groin injury, her absence keenly felt by the Fever faithful. The tension between Bonner and Clark, which has become a subplot of this season’s rivalry, flared up once again. During a heated third-quarter sequence, words were exchanged and emotions ran high—a reminder that in the WNBA, pride and passion are never in short supply.
For Phoenix, the victory cements their status as one of the league’s hottest teams heading into the final stretch, their eyes firmly set on postseason glory. The Mercury’s closing schedule—Washington, Connecticut, Los Angeles, Dallas—offers both peril and promise as they chase home-court advantage.
The Fever, meanwhile, return home battered but unbowed, hoping to regroup and punch their ticket to the playoffs. With Kelsey Mitchell in dazzling form and the possibility of Caitlin Clark’s return looming, Indiana’s fate remains unwritten—every game now a must-win, every moment charged with possibility.
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