Kelsey Mitchell led the Indiana Fever to a narrow 92-89 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday, scoring 29 points to settle the season series between the two teams. This matchup, featuring the No. 7 Fever and No. 12 Mercury, had been marked by intense physicality and off-court headlines throughout the regular season.
Adding to Indiana’s offensive efforts, Aliyah Boston contributed 21 points after missing the Fever’s previous game against the No. 9 Los Angeles Sparks. On the Mercury side, Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper both delivered strong performances, each scoring 22 points in a closely contested game.
Notably absent from the court was Fever standout Caitlin Clark, who remained sidelined due to a lingering back injury. Despite the physical nature of the game, tensions surrounding a controversial flagrant foul by Thomas on June 24th appeared to have subsided during this encounter.
Republican Lawmakers Threaten Action Over Caitlin Clark Physical Play
The physical intensity between these teams spilled beyond the basketball court last month when 11 Republican lawmakers expressed concern over repeated violent incidents targeting Clark. In a letter addressed to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, these lawmakers demanded accountability for what they described as “repeated acts of physical violence” against the Fever’s star player.
Led by Texas Representative August Pfluger, the letter warned of potential governmental investigation into the league for civil rights violations. The lawmakers have given Engelbert a deadline of July 24th to respond to inquiries regarding officiating standards, player conduct, and protections against harassment within the league.
In response, the Indiana Fever organization stated that neither the team nor Clark had been contacted by the committee nor were aware of the letter’s existence. The team reaffirmed that ensuring player safety remains a top priority as this situation unfolds.