A third-quarter skirmish against Natasha Cloud didn’t prevent Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark from leading the Indiana Fever to a 98-89 win over the Phoenix Mercury [Image Credits: @IndianaFever/X]
Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell’s superb start gave the Indiana Fever a 54-37 halftime lead. Mitchell’s 10-point first-quarter output was key to Indiana’s 33-16 advantage after the first 10 minutes. The fiery opening outburst allowed the Fever to fend off a desperate second-half rally by the Phoenix Mercury to walk away with a 98-89 win.
Phoenix began to turn the game around in the third quarter by playing with more energy and getting physical on defense. The target of the enhanced attention on that end were Clark and Mitchell, Indiana’s catalysts in the first half.
Natasha Cloud, one of the WNBA’s best defenders, had the enviable job of slowing down Kelsey Mitchell. In one third-quarter sequence, Cloud hounded Mitchell over a screen by NaLyssa Smith, forcing the Indiana guard to stumble. Mitchell responded by shoving the Mercury defensive ace.
After the game, Mitchell had this to say about that play:
“Got to get a little gritty and dirty, obviously. Sometimes, having passion in the game, some moments can just spike your team up. … I had a moment myself with T Cloud. Hats off to her for being a competitor.”
Mitchell and Cloud received technical fouls for the scuffle but both remained in the game. The skirmish did not “spike up” the Fever as Mitchell said. Instead, it was the Mercury who shook out of their stupor after the confrontation. Phoenix trailed 61-51 before that play and then dropped a crippling 11-0 run to grab a 62-61 lead following a Kahleah Copper 3-pointer with 2:17 to go.
Caitlin Clark took over for the Fever after the Mercury erased the lead. She had four points and two assists to finish the quarter. Her nifty pass to Katie Lou Samuelson, who drained a 26-footer, returned the lead to Indiana 73-65 to end the third frame.
Fever close out Mercury behind Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell
The increased physicality did not slow down Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell for long. Clark had eight points and four assists, three of which were to Mitchell, in the final frame. The Fever shooting guard had 10 points and a dime to Lexie Hull which resulted in a crucial 3-pointer.
Indiana had a 91-79 advantage with 3:02 remaining in the game but the Phoenix Mercury refused to quit. Back-to-back triples by Natasha Cloud and Kahleah Copper closed the gap to 91-85 before Hull’s long-range bomb off a Mitchell pass pushed the lead to 95-84.
Diana Taurasi and Kahleah Copper kept pushing the pace to catch up with the Fever. Indiana held on behind the poised and clutch plays of Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell to lead the host to the win. The Fever finished this season with a 3-0 record against the Mercury.
Edited by Michael Macasero
News
Brittany Mahomes hits back at criticism for liking Donald Trump’s Instagram post-nhung
Brittany Mahomes “liked” a Donald Trump post, sparking backlash on social media Brittany Mahomes does not often talk about politics, but she made an exception on Friday….
Breaking News: TAYLOR SWIFT & TRAVIS KELCE REUNITED IN RHODE ISLAND AFTER SEVERAL CRUEL WEEKS OF SUMMER!!!-nhung
The pics are taken pretty far away … but, there’s Kelce, recongizable mustache and longer hair slinging his arms around Taylor as the two reunited for some…
Jennifer Lopez Shares Sultry Behind-the-Scenes Pole Dancing Clip from ‘Hustlers,’ Offering Fans an Intimate Look at the Star’s Dazzling Performance Preparation-nhung
JENNIFER LOPEZ looked incredible in υnseen behind-the-scenes footage froм her new мovie Hυstlers, which she posted on Instagraм today. Jennifer Lopez, who tυrned 50 in Jυly, took…
Ben Affleck’s Ongoing Drama Strains Jennifer Garner’s Relationship with John Miller, Leading the Duo to a Tense Crossroads—What Happened Next Was Unexpected-nhung
Jennifer Garner and her boyfriend, John Miller, have reportedly taken a break as their six-year-long relationship has started suffering due to Ben Affleck. Jennifer Garner and her boyfriend,…
VIDEO: Adam Schefter Teases Wedding Engagement Between Travis Kelce And Taylor Swift-nhung
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, Adam Schefter (Photos via Getty Images) Adam Schefter may have fans believing that Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift have gotten engaged following an argument with…
VIDEO: Chiefs TE Travis Kelce Broke The Internet By Pulling Off The Iconic “Happy Gilmore” Golf Swing Following Last Week’s Big Announcement-nhung
Travis Kelce (Photo via @killatrav Instagram) Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end Travis Kelce certainly looks more than ready to film his scenes for Adam Sandler’s upcoming “Happy Gilmore” sequel….
End of content
No more pages to load