The Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury meet again on Thursday night with Caitlin Clark unavailable, turning an already charged rematch into another test for Indiana’s short-handed rotation. The game tips at 10 p.m. ET at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix and streams on Prime Video.
This is the first meeting since the Mercury’s 111-109 win over the Fever on June 24, a game that drew national attention after the WNBA suspended and fined Alyssa Thomas for “recklessly” making contact with Clark’s throat. The fallout also brought a wave of harassment toward Thomas and her Mercury teammates, which Clark said needed to stop.
What to know before tipoff
Clark is out with an ongoing back issue after being listed as resting for the matchup. Aliyah Boston is expected to play after missing Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Sparks while dealing with a lower leg injury.
| Matchup | Time | Location | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever | 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) | Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix | Prime Video |
The Fever are playing the second game of a back-to-back and remain in the middle of a demanding road trip. Clark told reporters on Tuesday that the schedule and travel can make a back issue harder to manage, saying it is “obviously kind of tough to get back into it” when a team is playing on consecutive nights.
She added that long travel and repeated hotel stays can take a toll, noting, “It’s hard on your body to travel and be on the road for 10 days and sleeping in different hotels and things like that.” Clark also said she is doing everything she can to stay healthy.
Mercury looking to keep momentum
Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts has also kept attention on the Mercury’s standing after Tuesday’s All-Star reserve announcements. He said he was “extremely disappointed” that neither Kahleah Copper nor Alyssa Thomas was selected, calling both players worthy of All-Star status.
USA TODAY Sports is providing live updates from the matchup as the teams renew a rivalry that has already produced one of the WNBA’s most talked-about games of the season.
Indiana Fever injury report
Clark is out, while Boston is expected back in the lineup after sitting out the previous game. That shift matters for Indiana as it tries to navigate the road swing without its leading guard.
Phoenix Mercury roster note
The Mercury enter with their core still in place, including Thomas and Copper, even as both players remain central to the debate around the All-Star snub and the aftermath of the previous matchup.
The stakes are still bigger than a single regular-season game, because the latest chapter comes with injury questions, All-Star frustration and lingering emotions from the June 24 meeting.