Game Broadcast Information
- Network: ION
Probable Starters
Indiana Fever (11-15)
- Guard: Kelsey Mitchell (16.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.8 apg)
- Guard: Caitlin Clark (17.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 8.2 apg)
- Center: Aliyah Boston (14.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.7 apg)
- Forward: Katie Lou Samuelson (5.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.5 apg)
- Forward: NaLyssa Smith (11.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.2 apg)
Phoenix Mercury (14-12)
- Guard: Natasha Cloud (12.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 7.3 apg)
- Guard: Diana Taurasi (16.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.6 apg)
- Guard: Sophie Cunningham (8.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.1 apg)
- Guard: Kahleah Copper (23.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.2 apg)
- Center: Brittney Griner (18.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.9 apg)
Game Status Report
Indiana:
- Temi Fagbenle – OUT (Right Thumb)
Phoenix (From Friday):
- Bec Allen – NWT (Right Hamstring)
- Charisma Osborne – OUT (Left Lower Leg)
GAME PREVIEW:
The Indiana Fever will face off against the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, marking the start of the second half of the WNBA regular season. This game is Indiana’s first since the Olympic break, while Phoenix already returned to action with an 85-65 victory over the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena on Thursday. Kahleah Copper shined in that game, scoring 29 points in her return to Chicago, while Brittney Griner contributed 23 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and five blocks against the short-handed Sky. Copper, in her first game against her former team since her February trade, shot 12-of-19 from the field.
During the Olympic break, Fever guard Kristy Wallace helped Australia secure a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Additionally, before the Olympics, Fever stars Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, and Kelsey Mitchell participated in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game on July 20, held at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. They played against the U.S. Women’s National Team, with Team WNBA, featuring Boston, Clark, and Mitchell, defeating Team USA, which included Copper, Griner, and Diana Taurasi, 117-109. The Fever trio combined for 21 points and 12 assists, with Mitchell scoring 13 points. Clark became only the third rookie in franchise history to start an All-Star Game, joining legends Tamika Catchings (2002) and Boston (2023). In her 26 minutes of All-Star play, Clark dished out 10 assists, tying for the second-most assists in a WNBA All-Star Game.
Just five days ago, Copper, Griner, and Taurasi played key roles in helping USA Basketball win its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal with a narrow 67-66 victory over France in the final. This victory established the USA Women’s National Team as the holder of the longest Olympic gold medal streak in a traditional team sport, surpassing the USA Men’s Basketball Team’s streak of seven consecutive golds from 1936-1968. Copper scored 12 points off the bench, including 10 crucial points in the final quarter to secure the win.
Friday’s game marks the final regular season meeting between Indiana and Phoenix, with the Fever currently holding a 2-0 lead in the series. Indiana has won four consecutive games against Phoenix dating back to 2023. In their first matchup this season, Indiana defeated Phoenix 88-82 on June 30 at the Footprint Center, with Boston, Clark, Mitchell, and NaLyssa Smith all scoring in double figures. In Indiana’s most recent win against Phoenix on July 12 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the same four players again reached double figures, led by Mitchell’s 28-point performance. Indiana dominated the paint in that game, outscoring Phoenix 60-28 in points in the paint.