Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | August 16, 2024

The playoff chase is on. The Fever with playoff aspirations. They're looking to get there for the first time since 2016. It's the Olympian Griner and a future Olympian in Aaliyah Boston who get us started. This Fever team is well-rested. They had one Olympian in Christy Wallace. Other than that, this group has been together here for the last month or so as Boston finds Mitchell who finishes. Knocking down two big free throws to get the one-point win over France. But guys, that gold medal game was just five days ago. Unlike majority of these women in the league, they didn't get the rest that they did. These three gold medalists as Boston dips inside and can't finish. Boston wrestling through a triple team. Here is Clark off the screen, launches, and drops a triple. As Copper knocks down her second shot. Now on a back-to-back here tonight. This is really physically demanding. It is extremely difficult. Not only physically, but also mentally staying in it. Go against another team here. They've been chomping at the bin. It's Tarassi. What a spin. Tarassi a finish. A 20-year veteran, Diana Tarassi dialing back. And it's Clark on the other end at 22. Go against another team here. They've been chomping at the bin. It's Tarassi. What a spin. Tarassi a finish. A 20-year veteran, Diana Tarassi dialing back. And it's Clark on the other end at 22. Beaver have hit seven of their last eight shots here from the floor. Samuelson, good ball movement, and finds Smith. As Cloud launches and misses on a three. Phoenix has missed their first four. You can see what Indiana wants to do here. They want to run. And Mitchell pulls up and connects. Almost pulled off the bench and come to your first shot is that three ball, being able to knock it down. Got to have the confidence to do it as well. Mitchell launches and hits a three. Mercury offense has ranked since 2015. It's been the Beaver offense that has stolen the show here so far. Dantas tips it. There's Smith on the receiving end. For a couple of all-stars. Oh, Mitchell, she wins that battle. Three ball rims out. Phoenix just one of eight from the perimeter here so far. With the fourth fastest pace of play. And that suits Kaitlyn Clark. The switch on to Dantas. Off balance. Clark. Copper. Galea Copper beats that first quarter buzzer. Playing her game. And Phoenix got to do a better job closing out on that. Clark. Oh, from the logo. Couldn't get it to go. But there's Boston who cleans up underneath. Missed the shot. Has to give you confidence as well to shoot and be in your game. Indiana comes up with a turnover. Here is Clark. This time it's Smith with a foul and an and one. Here's Mitchell. Oh, behind the defense. And Kaitlyn Clark can do no wrong. She's coming off that assist record in Dallas before the Olympic break. 16 points here early in the second quarter. As far as assists as well. As Cloud rattles that one in. Trying to carve out some space. These are more than content to make Phoenix jump shooters. And there is Cloud. Defense there by Mack who got pinned in underneath. Able to get a piece of Boston's shots. Here's Tarasi launching and hitting a three. Somebody that just thoroughly loves basketball, loves the game, and being able to come out here and support, I know, means so much to these women. But also get some of these tips as well, being able to see where he can improve with his game too. Wheeler turns the corner, gets inside. Extra pass. That was pretty. And Boston cleans up. Here before halftime as Copper going cross-court to Cunningham. Cloud is open and rattles home a three. Phoenix has had some good looks from the break. Lots of hands, being able to move. They have to do a good job finding the holes in the defense. Copper back for Tarasi who splashes home a three. And all of a sudden the floodgates have opened from the perimeter. Beaver offensively turned it over just two times in that first half. They averaged 15 a game, so a very good sign from that perspective. But it's Greiner who gets it. Kind of a hallmark of a young team and a talented team like this. Beaver had moments of brilliance, but then moments of struggle as Cunningham gets it inside to Greiner. Greiner turning on Boston and the hook shot. Pretty touch. This Indiana fever crowd a little anxious right now as Indiana led by 28 earlier. It's a 26-7 run as Mitchell puts an end to it with a three. Smart play there by Copper to intercept. And here's Tarasi through traffic and a finish. Wow, we've seen two great moves by Tarasi going downhill. Copper kind of tied up there. She and Tarasi play catch. Refreshes the dribble. Shot clock down to five. Copper off the screen from the foul line. Knocks it down. Very similar. Cold start. Roaring back. Staying steady. Strong-minded. And Mitchell from the heavens. Working on cloud. Nothing developing here for Indiana. Shot clock's already down to five. Smith's going to have to create. Smith driving on Greiner who sends it back. Greiner with a signature block. Other than that, Indiana's offense has struggled in the third quarter. They have seven points. Cunningham wide open. Smashes home a three. Comes up holding her head, and the Mercury have numbers the other direction. Skip pass. Copper. Extra pass. Herbert Harrigan delivers on a three. Turnovers. They've had seven here in the third quarter. Clark stepped back on a deep two. Oh, gets the shooter's touch. Mitchell with five seconds left. Cross-court Clark. Does Clark see the clock? Hand off Samuelson. Who burns Samuelson? Beats the buzzer. The third with a flourish. Been a tough one to get. Clark off the screen. Finds some space and delivers. It's a triple for Kaitlin Clark. Been going up. A little surprised to see Mitchell not launch either. There is Tarassi on the other end. Hits a three. And the Mercury just refused. Clark seeing two. Bounces. Oh, beautiful. It's Boston with the finish. He's got the assignment of Natasha Cloud with the shot clock down to five. Trying to spin her way out of it. Trying to create one on the shot clock. Cloud gets it up and knocks it down. Big shot, Natasha Cloud. Season double team. Skip pass Clark. Mitchell, corner three. Connects. One skip pass. Another start of her game, and she does that by going downhill, being explosive, and really doing a good job just getting a little step on the. And Mitchell with the hesitation and the. Clark sizing up Cunningham. Here is Mitchell. Another three. Mitchell is locked in. So you probe her, get the defense to shift, and there's a wide open Clark. Cunningham answers with a three of her own. Maitland Clark just wants to settle things down here for the moment. She gets the step on Cunningham. Clark gets to the rim. That might have been. At times from the line this season, the big ones there for Indiana as Cloud buries a three. Big. Reiner who's checked back in. Reiner cross court pass. Copper fires away and hits a three. And Phoenix is back within six. Again, you can't stop everything. You just got to try to make it difficult. They were able to find those holes. And Lexi Hole, a triple of her own. Melissa Smith. Clark cutting. It's Mitchell with the finish. Just six seconds to go. Tarasi will dribble it away. For the first time in franchise history, Beaver beating the Mercury for three times in the regular season. Indiana sweeps the season series.