Coming back from the Olympic break, the Phoenix Mercury (14-12) had a complete game from start to finish as they crushed the Chicago Sky 85-65 in Kahleah Copper’s first game against her former team Thursday night. Copper scored 29 points and Brittney Griner added 23 in the victory.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!While they are just getting back to being acclimated with each other once again following a long layoff, the Mercury are right back at it as they will complete the second half of a back-to-back as they face WNBA rookie sensation Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever 11-15.
Unlike Phoenix who had Kahleah Copper, Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner all away in Paris, the Fever did not have major players like Clark, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell or NaLyssa Smith go overseas and compete in the 2024 Olympics, having time to recuperate and train together.
Currently, the Mercury are the No. 6 seed in the league while the Fever are right behind them in seventh, both in playoff positions. The Fever are 2-0 vs. Phoenix this season, with an 88-82 comeback win in Phoenix on June 30 and a 95-86 victory on July 12 in Indiana.
The Mercury has 10 players on its roster after not re-signing rookie guard Celeste Taylor by Thursday’s deadline. With Charisma Osborne and Rebecca Allen both out with injuries, however, they will have eight players available for selection vs. the Fever.
Starting Lineups
Phoenix Mercury starting lineup vs. Indiana Fever
Natasha Cloud
Diana Taurasi
Kahleah Copper
Sophie Cunningham
Brittney Griner #ValleyTogether #WNBA #FeverRising— Burn City Mercury (@BurnCityMercury) August 16, 2024
Indiana Fever starting lineup vs. Phoenix Mercury
Caitlin Clark
Kelsey Mitchell
Katie Lou Samuelson
NaLyssa Smith
Aliyah Boston#ValleyTogether #WNBA #FeverRising— Burn City Mercury (@BurnCityMercury) August 16, 2024
Game Notes
- Kahleah Copper scored 36 points in the last matchup on July 12th. She is averaging 23.2 points a game, second in the WNBA only behind Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson (27.2).
- In her rookie season, Clark is leading the league in assists per game (8.2). The 22-year-old has averaged 17.1 points, and 5.8 rebounds in 26 games (all starts) this season.
- The Mercury are 29-24 all-time vs. the Fever. Indiana has won the past four matchups since last year.
- Against the Sky, Brittney Griner recorded the 43rd game of her career with five-plus blocks.
- Phoenix is 5-2 in their last seven games while the Fever are 5-5 in their last 10.
Mercury don’t re-sign rookie guard before deadline, heads to WNBA title contender
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, the Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
