The Phoenix Mercury delivered a commanding performance on March 15, 2024, decisively defeating the Indiana Fever 95-60 in a WNBA matchup. This victory marked a significant turnaround from their previous encounter, where the Mercury suffered a close loss. The game showcased the Mercury’s dominance, as they controlled the pace and tempo from start to finish.
Strong Start for the Mercury
The game kicked off with both teams eager to establish their rhythm. Kahleah Copper opened the scoring with the first four points. Satou Sabally, buoyed by her recent performance, quickly added to the Mercury’s lead with a three-pointer and a fadeaway jumper, helping the team jump out to a 15-7 advantage. Natasha Mack, starting at center for the Mercury, proved to be a crucial presence, effectively limiting Fever star Aliyah Boston, who managed only four points throughout the game.
As the quarter progressed, the Mercury’s lead widened, culminating in a 26-16 score after the first quarter. The Fever struggled offensively, shooting just 38.9% from the field and committing five turnovers. Kelsey Mitchell was the standout for Indiana, contributing eight points, but the team faced a tough challenge against the Mercury’s defense.
Mercury Extend Their Lead
In the second quarter, the Mercury began to pull away, extending their lead to 14 points. Despite Sophie Cunningham’s two quick threes that momentarily cut the deficit, Phoenix responded with strong offensive plays, including back-to-back layups from Alyssa Thomas and Sami Whitcomb. Cunningham’s and-one play briefly reignited hope for the Fever, but the Mercury quickly regained control. A halfcourt shot from Natisha Howard at the halftime buzzer brought the score to 47-36, yet the Fever were hampered by eight turnovers compared to just seven assists.
By halftime, Phoenix had dominated the boards, securing eight offensive rebounds. Alyssa Thomas and Sabally led the scoring for the Mercury with ten points each, while DeWanna Bonner contributed nine from the bench.
The third quarter saw the Mercury’s defense intensify. Mack continued to disrupt Indiana’s plays, leading to a shot clock violation. Thomas assisted Mack for a fast-break layup, extending the lead to 15. Despite Cunningham’s impressive shooting, which set a personal season high, the Fever could not keep pace. A 14-0 run by the Mercury, sparked by a three-pointer from Whitcomb, left Indiana scoreless for over four minutes.
As the third quarter concluded, the Mercury held a commanding 73-47 lead, effectively sealing the game.
Historic Triple-Double and Record Victory
The final quarter began with a give-and-go between Bonner and Thomas, followed by a corner three from Copper that pushed the lead to 29 points. As the game progressed, Thomas achieved her third consecutive triple-double, making her the only player in WNBA history to accomplish this feat. After securing her final assist that set up Bonner for another three, Thomas exited the game to a standing ovation and cheers of “MVP” from the Phoenix crowd.
The Mercury maintained their dominance, leading by as many as 36 points before closing out the game at 95-60. This victory marked their largest margin of the season. Phoenix forced 20 turnovers and excelled in rebounding, winning that battle by 12 boards. Notably, after conceding a season-high in free throws during their last meeting, the Mercury held the Fever to just 13 attempts from the line.
In terms of individual performances, Thomas finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Sabally added 15 points and eight rebounds in only 20 minutes of play, while Bonner led all scorers with a season-high 23 points. For the Fever, Cunningham topped the scoring with 18 points, but the team struggled to find consistency, with Mitchell as the only other player reaching double digits with 12 points.
As the Mercury look to build on this momentum, fans can follow their journey on social media platforms like X and Facebook.