PHOENIX (AP) — Caitlin Clark had 15 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds as the Indiana Fever staged a remarkable comeback to beat the Phoenix Mercury 88-82 on Sunday.
Clark fell just one rebound short of a triple-double, despite shooting 4 of 14 from the field and 2 of 10 from 3-point range. However, she made crucial free throws in the final seconds to secure the win for Indiana, who had trailed by as much as 15 in the first half.
Kelsey Mitchell's clutch baskets in the closing moments helped Indiana take the lead and seal the victory. Mitchell finished with 16 points, all scored in the second half.
Aliyah Boston contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, while NaLyssa Smith added 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Fever. Temi Fagbenle chipped in with 10 points.
Indiana head coach Christie Sides commended her team for stepping up to face challenges head-on and expressed pride in their performance.
Clark played through the game despite feeling unwell, according to Sides.
Brittney Griner led the scoring for Phoenix with 24 points, followed by Diana Taurasi with 19 points and Natasha Cloud with 15.
Kahleah Copper, ranked third in the WNBA in scoring average, struggled to seven points on 3-of-15 shooting while primarily guarding Clark.
The matchup marked the first on-court meeting between Taurasi and Clark. Taurasi, the WNBA's all-time leading scorer, praised Clark's dedication to the game and her continuous improvement.
When Clark was selected as the No. 1 overall pick, Taurasi commented on the challenges awaiting her in the professional league.
Despite a strong start by Phoenix, Indiana staged a comeback in the second half with a 17-0 run, ultimately securing the victory. Taurasi acknowledged the Fever's faster pace and movement contributing to their success.
The game saw several incidents resulting in technical fouls and a flagrant-1 foul against Indiana and Phoenix players.
Phoenix will face Connecticut next, while Indiana concludes their road trip against Las Vegas.
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball