McDonald scores a career-high 27 and the short-handed Fever beat the
Mercury for 3rd straight win
[July 31, 2025]
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Aari McDonald scored a career-high 27 points, Aliyah
Boston had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and the short-handed Indiana Fever
beat the Phoenix Mercury 107-101 on Wednesday night for their third
straight victory.
Indiana star Caitlin Clark was sidelined with a right groin injury and
there’s no timetable for her return. The Fever improved to 7-7 without
Clark this season. |
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, celebrates with teammate as the
Phoenix Mercury called a timeout in the first half of a WNBA basketball
game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael
Conroy) |
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Boston scored Indiana’s opening 14 points of
the fourth quarter for an 88-79 lead. She finished with her
fourth straight double-double.
Indiana’s 10th 3-pointer came on Chloe Bibby’s shot from the
corner with 5:27 remaining to make it 91-83. Then Sophie
Cunningham was fouled while making a 3-pointer and she made the
free throw for an 11-point lead.
Cunningham and Damiris Dantas each scored 12 points for Indiana
(15-12), which scored 100-plus for the third time this season.
Kelsey Mitchell, who scored a season-high 35 points on Sunday,
was held to eight points on 3-of-10 shooting.
Alyssa Thomas led Phoenix (16-10) with 32 points, 15 rebounds
and seven assists. Kahleah Copper, who played in her 10th game
this season, added 22 points and Sami Whitcomb scored 18. The
Mercury have lost four of their last five games.
Indiana dominated the second quarter, scoring 35 points to take
a 55-50 lead into the break. Phoenix only made one field goal in
the final three minutes of the period, with Whitcomb just
beating the halftime buzzer on a long 3-pointer.
Familiar faces
In the first of three meetings this season, Cunningham faced the
Mercury for the first time after spending her first six
professional seasons in Phoenix. DeWanna Bonner went against the
Fever for the first time since departing the team earlier this
season. Bonner went 1 of 4 from the field in 21 minutes.
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