The Phoenix Mercury delivered a commanding performance on March 14, 2024, defeating the Indiana Fever 95-60. This decisive victory marked a stark contrast to their previous encounter, where the Mercury fell to the Fever 107-101 just eight days earlier. The win solidified their position in the WNBA standings, showcasing their ability to control the game from start to finish.
Mercury Take Control Early
Kahleah Copper opened the scoring for the Mercury, quickly putting four points on the board. Following her lead, Satou Sabally displayed confidence after her recent strong outing, hitting a three-pointer and a fadeaway jumper. The Mercury surged to a 15-7 lead early in the first quarter.
In a significant defensive effort, Natasha Mack, starting at center, effectively neutralized Aliyah Boston, who had excelled in the Fever’s previous victory. Boston struggled to find her rhythm, finishing with just four points and one field goal. The Mercury’s defensive prowess limited Indiana to a mere 38.9% shooting from the field and forced five turnovers in the first quarter, which ended with the Mercury ahead 26-16. Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with eight points, while Sabally contributed eight points on perfect shooting.
As the quarter progressed, the Mercury’s lead expanded, and an unfortunate injury to Sydney Colson further hindered the Fever’s chances. Colson’s knee buckled near the sideline, and she did not return, leaving Indiana to regroup without one of their key players.
Mercury Maintain Momentum
In the second quarter, the Mercury continued to build their lead, pushing it to 14 points before Sophie Cunningham hit two quick three-pointers. However, the Fever struggled to find consistency, as Phoenix quickly responded with buckets from Copper and back-to-back layups from Alyssa Thomas and Sami Whitcomb, re-establishing a double-digit lead.
Despite Cunningham’s efforts, which included an and-one opportunity that momentarily revived hopes for Indiana, the Mercury’s intensity prevailed. A stunning half-court shot by Natisha Howard closed the half at 47-36, but Indiana ended the second quarter with more turnovers (eight) than assists (seven), undermining their offensive efforts.
At halftime, Thomas and Sabally led the Mercury with ten points each, while DeWanna Bonner added nine. The Fever’s offense was stagnant, relying heavily on Cunningham’s 12 points, all scored in the second quarter.
The third quarter saw the Mercury’s defense intensify. Mack forced a shot clock violation against Howard, and a fast-break layup from Thomas extended the lead to 15 points. Despite Cunningham’s personal scoring high for the season, the Fever could not keep pace. Phoenix embarked on a 14-0 run, holding Indiana scoreless for over four minutes. By the end of the quarter, the Mercury had widened their advantage to 73-47.
In the final quarter, a give-and-go play between Bonner and Thomas, coupled with a Copper three-pointer, pushed the lead to 29 points, sealing the game for Phoenix. Thomas achieved her third consecutive triple-double, making her the only player in WNBA history to accomplish this feat.
Record-Setting Performance
Thomas finished the game with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, earning a standing ovation from the Phoenix crowd as they chanted “MVP.” Bonner led all scorers with 23 points, while Sabally contributed 15 points and eight rebounds in a limited 20 minutes of play.
The Mercury’s defense forced 20 Fever turnovers and won the rebounding battle by a margin of 12. After conceding a season-high in free throws during their last match in Indiana, the Mercury restricted the Fever to just 13 attempts from the line in this contest.
For the Fever, Cunningham led with 18 points from five three-pointers, while Kelsey Mitchell added 12 points, eight of which came in the first quarter. In stark contrast to their previous performance, Aari McDonald and Boston, who had combined for 49 points in their last meeting, managed only eight points this time.
The victory marks a significant step forward for the Mercury as they look to build momentum in the season. Fans can follow the latest updates on the Mercury through their social media channels.
