Caitlin Clark looked refreshed after taking a month off for the WNBA’s Olympic break.
The three members of the Phoenix Mercury U.S. Olympic team couldn’t keep up Friday night.
Clark scored 13 of his 29 points in the first quarter, added 10 assists and four 3-pointers and helped the Indiana Fever fend off a furious second-half Phoenix comeback to restart the season with a critical 98-89 victory.
“We knew they were coming in here with a lot of confidence, with three people who have won gold medals,” said Clark, who was left off the Olympic roster. “We know they have a lot of confidence and I think we came out and really set the tone.”
It wasn’t just Clark, who recorded his 10th double-double of the season.
Kelsey Mitchell hit six 3-pointers and finished with 28 points and Aliyah Boston outscored 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 criticism began in April, when Taurasi predicted that Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, would face a rude awakening in her first pro season. Phoenix stoked the fire again this week with a Twitter video featuring a young fan asking, “Who’s Caitlin? I’m here for Taurasi.”
Brief scuffles broke out twice during the game, including one between Mitchell and the Mercury’s Natasha Cloud that resulted in a double technical foul. The other involved Griner and Boston.
But whether Indiana (12-15) was motivated by the chance to face three Olympians, having a chance to pull off its first season sweep of any team since 2020 or the Mercury were 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 on.
It proved costly as the Mercury (14-13) fell into a 48-20 deficit midway through the second quarter.
“I think you can tell by their faces, they’re tired,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said. “I’m sure there will be better days. We have to understand that these games are going to happen very quickly, but I know all three of them are ready to go to sleep in their own beds.”
While one of the Olympic gold medalists, 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 finished with 16 points, but Griner had 10 points and four rebounds and was in foul trouble.
Still, the tired trio found a way to mount a comeback. Phoenix cut the halftime deficit to 54-37 and opened the second half on a 25-7 run to take a 62-61 lead late in the third quarter.
Following Clark’s return, the Fever rallied behind Mitchell’s sharp shooting and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Katie Lou Samuelson to take a 73-65 lead. The Fever never trailed again in front of a packed stadium.
“Yeah, it was a lot of 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 were times where we could have fallen apart, but we kept fighting and I think it was a really good start for us.”
All-Star WeekendFormer Fever star and Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings addressed the crowd during a break in the first quarter to celebrate the city’s selection as the host of next season’s All-Star Game. Catchings will be one of five co-chairs of the local organizing committee.
The league announced Indiana’s selection on Wednesday. The game will be played on July 19. Phoenix hosted this year’s All-Star weekend. Indiana hosted the 2024 All-Star weekend. NBA All-Star Game.
Banner NightBefore kickoff, the Fever paid tribute to the late Jim Morris, former vice president of Pacers Sports & Entertainment and a key figure in the Fever franchise. He died in mid-July. After a video, the Fever unveiled Morris’ banner in the rafters.
He is the ninth player, coach or executive to receive such an honor and the first to be honored for both the Fever and Pacers franchises.
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