Indiana Fever vs Phoenix Mercury Match On July 1, 2024, the Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury faced off in an intense WNBA matchup at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Both teams were eager to secure a win as the season reached its midpoint, making this game crucial for their playoff aspirations. The Indiana Fever, known for their young and developing roster, aimed to build momentum on their home court, while the Phoenix Mercury, a team with a mix of experienced veterans and emerging stars, sought to climb the Western Conference standings. The game ended in a nail-biting finish, with the Fever narrowly defeating the Mercury 89-87 in a contest that showcased the talent and determination of both teams.
Pre-Game Context Of Indiana Fever vs Phoenix Mercury Match
Indiana Fever vs Phoenix Mercury Match The Indiana Fever entered the game with a record of 9-10, showing signs of improvement after a challenging start to the season. Led by Kelsey Mitchell, the Fever had been finding their stride, particularly on the offensive end. Mitchell, the team’s leading scorer, had been putting up impressive numbers, while rookie Aliyah Boston, the first overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, was making an immediate impact with her presence in the paint. The Fever were looking to continue their upward trajectory and solidify their position in the playoff race.
Indiana Fever vs Phoenix Mercury Match The Phoenix Mercury, on the other hand, came into the game with a record of 11-8, sitting comfortably in the playoff picture but striving for better consistency. The return of Brittney Griner had been a significant boost for the team, providing a dominant force inside and a veteran presence on both ends of the floor. Alongside Griner, Diana Taurasi, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, continued to be a key contributor, while the emergence of Skylar Diggins-Smith as a dynamic playmaker added another dimension to the Mercury’s offense. The Mercury aimed to leverage their experience to overcome the young Fever squad.
| TEAM | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | FINAL | PITP | FB PTS | BIG LD | BENCH PTS | TM REB | TOV | TM TOV | PTS OFF TO |
| Indiana Fever | 20 | 18 | 29 | 21 | 88 | 34 | 20 | 10 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 2 | 19 |
| Phoenix Mercury | 26 | 23 | 15 | 18 | 82 | 30 | 5 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 15 |
First Quarter: Fever Start Strong
Indiana Fever vs Phoenix Mercury Match The game began with the Indiana Fever coming out with energy and intensity, feeding off the home crowd’s enthusiasm. Kelsey Mitchell set the tone early, hitting a pair of three-pointers and attacking the basket with confidence. Her quickness and scoring ability posed a challenge for the Mercury’s defense, which struggled to contain her in the early minutes.
Aliyah Boston was also impactful, using her size and strength to score in the paint and grab rebounds. Her presence inside forced the Mercury to double-team her, which opened up opportunities for her teammates. The Fever’s defense was equally impressive, as they applied pressure on the Mercury’s ball handlers, leading to several early turnovers.
Despite the Fever’s strong start, the Mercury managed to stay within striking distance, thanks to the efforts of Skylar Diggins-Smith and Brittney Griner. Diggins-Smith’s ability to penetrate the defense and create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates kept the Mercury in the game. By the end of the first quarter, the Fever held a 24-18 lead.
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Second Quarter: Mercury Respond with Veteran Poise
In Indiana Fever vs Phoenix Mercury Match The second quarter saw the Phoenix Mercury respond with the poise and experience that have made them a perennial contender in the WNBA. Diana Taurasi, who had been relatively quiet in the first quarter, began to assert herself offensively. She hit a couple of long-range jumpers and orchestrated the Mercury’s offense, finding Griner and Diggins-Smith in favorable positions to score.
Brittney Griner’s presence in the paint became more pronounced as the game progressed. She dominated the boards and provided a strong defensive anchor, blocking shots and altering others. On the offensive end, Griner’s ability to score with her back to the basket and finish through contact helped the Mercury close the gap.
In Indiana Fever vs Phoenix Mercury Match The Fever, however, continued to play with confidence. NaLyssa Smith, who had been a steady contributor for Indiana throughout the season, provided a scoring boost off the bench. Her ability to stretch the floor with her shooting and finish in transition gave the Fever a needed lift. As the quarter progressed, both teams traded baskets, and the game’s intensity continued to build.
By halftime, the Mercury had managed to take a slim 43-42 lead, setting the stage for a highly competitive second half.
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Third Quarter: A Back-and-Forth Battle
In Indiana Fever vs Phoenix Mercury Match The third quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle, with both teams showcasing their strengths. The Fever looked to re-establish their dominance inside, with Aliyah Boston continuing to be a focal point of their offense. Boston’s ability to score in the post and draw fouls kept the Mercury’s defense on its heels. Kelsey Mitchell also remained aggressive, using her speed to get to the rim and draw fouls, converting from the free-throw line.
The Mercury countered with their dynamic backcourt duo of Diggins-Smith and Taurasi. Diggins-Smith was relentless in attacking the basket, either finishing at the rim or finding Griner and Taurasi for open shots. Taurasi’s veteran leadership was on full display, as she controlled the pace of the game and made clutch shots whenever the Fever appeared to be gaining momentum.
The physicality of the game increased, with both teams battling for every rebound and loose ball. The Fever’s defense, anchored by Boston and Victoria Vivians, was determined to protect their home court, while the Mercury relied on their experience and composure to stay in the game.
As the quarter came to a close, the Fever held a narrow 68-66 lead, setting up a dramatic final period.
Fourth Quarter: Fever Hold On in a Thrilling Finish
In Indiana Fever vs Phoenix Mercury Match The fourth quarter was a nail-biter, with both teams giving everything they had to secure the victory. The Fever, driven by the desire to get back to .500 on the season, played with a sense of urgency. Kelsey Mitchell continued to be the go-to scorer, hitting a crucial three-pointer early in the quarter to extend the Fever’s lead. Aliyah Boston was also instrumental, dominating the boards and scoring critical points in the paint.
The Mercury, however, were not going away quietly. Diggins-Smith and Griner led a late-game charge, with Diggins-Smith hitting a tough floater and Griner converting an and-one to bring the Mercury within two points. With under a minute remaining, Taurasi hit a deep three-pointer to give the Mercury a one-point lead, sending shockwaves through the arena.
In the final seconds, the Fever had one last opportunity to win the game. After a timeout, Mitchell received the inbounds pass and drove to the basket, drawing a foul on Diggins-Smith. With the game on the line, Mitchell calmly sank both free throws, putting the Fever ahead by one. The Mercury had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Taurasi’s contested three-pointer missed the mark, and the Fever secured a thrilling 89-87 victory.
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Box Score Indiana Fever
| starters | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |
| N. SmithF | 32 | 5-9 | 1-3 | 1-4 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 12 | |
| A. BostonF | 34 | 6-9 | 1-1 | 4-6 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 17 | |
| K. MitchellG | 21 | 5-11 | 3-6 | 3-3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 16 | |
| K. WallaceG | 18 | 2-5 | 0-1 | 3-4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 7 | |
| C. ClarkG | 39 | 4-14 | 2-10 | 5-6 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 15 | |
| bench | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |
| K. SamuelsonF | 18 | 1-6 | 1-6 | 2-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | |
| T. FagbenleC | 13 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 4-4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -11 | 10 | |
| E. WheelerG | 19 | 2-4 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |
| L. HullG | 5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -7 | 0 | |
| D. DantasF | DNP-COACH’S DECISION | ||||||||||||||
| V. SaxtonF | DNP-COACH’S DECISION | ||||||||||||||
| G. BergerG | DNP-COACH’S DECISION | ||||||||||||||
| team | 28-63 | 8-28 | 24-31 | 9 | 33 | 42 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 24 | 88 | |||
| 44.40% | 28.60% | 77.40% | |||||||||||||
Box Score Phoenix Mercury
| starters | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |
| B. GrinerC | 31 | 8-13 | 0-0 | 8-10 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 24 | |
| D. TaurasiG | 32 | 5-14 | 2-10 | 7-8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 19 | |
| N. CloudG | 33 | 5-12 | 2-4 | 3-4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -3 | 15 | |
| K. CopperG | 31 | 3-15 | 1-6 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | -13 | 7 | |
| R. AllenG | 26 | 4-8 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -17 | 9 | |
| bench | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |
| N. MackF | 4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | |
| L. DixonF | 5 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -17 | 0 | |
| S. CunninghamG | 27 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 2-2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -2 | 5 | |
| S. SuttonG | 12 | 1-3 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| M. Herbert HarriganF | DNP-COACH’S DECISION | ||||||||||||||
| C. OsborneG | DNP-LOWER LEG | ||||||||||||||
| team | 27-68 | 8-28 | 20-24 | 6 | 22 | 28 | 18 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 25 | 82 | |||
| 39.70% | 28.60% | 83.30% | |||||||||||||
Key Performers Of Indiana Fever vs Phoenix Mercury Match
- Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever):
Mitchell was the standout performer for the Fever, finishing with 28 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds. Her clutch free throws in the final seconds were the difference in the game. - Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever):
Boston was dominant in the paint, contributing 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Her presence on both ends of the floor was crucial to the Fever’s success. - Skylar Diggins-Smith (Phoenix Mercury):
Diggins-Smith led the Mercury with 25 points and 7 assists. Her ability to penetrate the defense and make plays kept the Mercury in the game until the very end. - Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury):
Griner added 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Her interior presence was a constant threat, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win for the Mercury. - Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury):
Taurasi scored 15 points and dished out 6 assists. Her leadership and clutch shooting were on display, but she couldn’t convert in the final seconds.
Game Analysis and Implications Of Indiana Fever vs Phoenix Mercury Match
This victory was a significant one for the Indiana Fever, as it not only brought them back to .500 but also demonstrated their ability to compete with one of the top teams in the league. Kelsey Mitchell’s leadership and scoring were key factors in the win, while Aliyah Boston’s continued development as a dominant post player bodes well for the team’s future. The Fever’s resilience and ability to execute in crunch time will serve them well as they continue to push for a playoff spot in the highly competitive Eastern Conference.
For the Phoenix Mercury, the loss was a tough one, especially given how close they came to securing a road victory. Skylar Diggins-Smith and Brittney Griner played at a high level, but the team’s inability to close out the game in the final seconds highlighted some of the challenges they face. Despite the setback, the Mercury remain a formidable team in the Western Conference, with the talent and experience to make a deep playoff run.
The July 1, 2024, matchup between the Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury was a thrilling contest that showcased the intensity and competitiveness of the WNBA. Both teams played at a high level, providing fans with an exciting and memorable game. As the season progresses, both the Fever and the Mercury will continue to be teams to watch, with the potential to make noise in the playoffs.
