Caitlin Clark, Fever proceed playoff push vs. Mercury

After practically a month off, celebrity rookie guard Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever return to motion and proceed their pursuit of a spot within the WNBA playoffs after they host the Phoenix Mercury on Friday.

The Fever (11-15) misplaced to the Dallas Wings 101-93 of their remaining sport earlier than the break for the Summer season Olympics. Indiana had gained its earlier two video games earlier than dropping to Dallas, topping the Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx.

Earlier than the break, Clark tallied 10 assists and 4 factors in her first WNBA All-Star sport, serving to the WNBA All-Stars high the U.S. Olympic group. Two of her Fever teammates — Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston — have been additionally All-Stars. Mitchell scored 13 factors whereas Boston notched 4 factors.

Subsequent yr’s All-Star Recreation might be performed in Indianapolis, the place Clark and her teammates will possible take heart stage in entrance of their house followers.

Nevertheless, that is a methods away. Proper now, the Fever are hoping that the latest Olympic break has rejuvenated them as they shoot for a playoff berth.

“I believe the Olympic break undoubtedly does assist for a group that hasn’t been collectively for a very long time, like us,” Fever guard Erica Wheeler mentioned. “To have the ability to get these practices and be capable to get some actual runs in and actually hit it laborious and have days off I believe is tremendous vital.”

Added Fever ahead NaLyssa Smith: “It has been big for us. It is time to work on us. You get to work on the small issues, defensively, offensive rebounds.”

Clark is averaging 17.1 factors and a league-leading 8.2 assists whereas taking pictures 32.7 p.c from 3-point vary. The Olympic break offered a breather for Clark, who performed in her remaining faculty sport on April 7 after which made her preseason WNBA debut on Could 3. Basically, the rookie has been taking part in practically continuous since final November.

Talking of breaks, the three Olympians on the Mercury did not get a lot of 1. Diana Taurasi, Kahleah Copper and Brittney Griner might be taking part in of their second sport since getting back from France with Workforce USA’s eighth consecutive gold medal. Behind 29 factors from Copper, the Mercury (14-12) beat the host Chicago Sky 85-65 on Thursday of their return to WNBA motion.

“The thrilling factor for us and her is that we have been getting her in her prime,” first-year Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts mentioned of Copper.

Copper, who performed essential minutes within the fourth quarter and hit the game-winning free throws in Workforce USA’s gold medal win over France, ranks second within the WNBA in scoring this season with a mean of 23.4 factors per sport.

“That is what Kah does,” Taurasi mentioned of Copper. “She’s competed all yr for us and we knew when issues get tight, she’s all the time the other. She will do issues that nobody else can do on our group — nationwide group or right here on the Mercury.”

–Area Degree Media