The Indiana Fever may need discovered a rhythm whereas celebrity guard Caitlin Clark stays sidelined.
Nevertheless, recording a 3rd consecutive victory Wednesday evening in Indianapolis might show tough in opposition to the visiting Phoenix Mercury, who could possibly be again on monitor following their longest skid of 2025.
Clark has missed 13 video games this season for the Fever (14-12), together with the final 4 whereas formally listed as day-to-day with a groin situation. Indiana started its newest stretch minus Clark by dropping back-to-back video games at New York by a mixed 35 factors.
Nevertheless, the Fever rebounded to beat Las Vegas by 10 at residence, then rolled to a 93-78 victory Sunday at Chicago, which was with out its personal star Angel Reese. Kelsey Mitchell made seven 3-pointers and completed with 35 factors for Indiana, which improved to sixth within the league standings.
“We have to essentially be the place our toes are and give attention to us,” Fever coach Stephanie White mentioned. “We’ve to care for what we will management.”
Mitchell, who was banged round by the Sky, has averaged 28.3 factors within the final three video games and leads the group in scoring this season at 20.2 factors per sport. Regardless of icing down after that contest, she seems set to proceed her scorching stretch on this first assembly in 2025 with the Mercury (16-9).
Alyssa Thomas posted 27 factors, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals on Sunday as Phoenix outscored Washington 26-12 within the third quarter en path to an 88-72 street victory that snapped its three-game dropping streak. The Mercury had allowed 89 and 90 factors, respectively, of their earlier two video games versus New York and Atlanta.
“This league is hard, and when you do not come to play, when you do not compete at a excessive degree each evening, groups are gonna go at you,” Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts mentioned. “I beloved our toughness and grit (on Sunday).”
Thomas (15.7 ppg, 9.4 apg, 8.0 rpg) has totaled 47 factors, 24 rebounds and 16 assists within the final two video games.
Teammate DeWanna Bonner returns to Indiana, the place the six-time All-Star was launched after taking part in 9 video games this season. In six video games with Phoenix, the place she starred for her first 10 seasons (2009-16, 2018-19), Bonner has averaged 11.5 factors and 5.0 rebounds.
–Subject Degree Media