Caitlin Clark scores 29 in first post-Olympics game as Fever inch toward playoff spot

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark reacts during the first half of Friday’s game against the Phoenix Mercury in Indianapolis.

Caitlin Clark piled up 29 points and 10 assists Friday night in Indianapolis as the Indiana Fever built a comfortable lead early and held off the Phoenix Mercury for a 98-89 victory.

It marked the first outing for the Fever (12-15) since the Olympic break as the young team resumed play in the WNBA season after nearly a month off and continued its hunt for a playoff berth. For the Mercury (14-13), it was the second contest in a pair of back-to-back road games. Phoenix topped the Chicago Sky on Thursday night

But against the Fever, the Mercury didn’t have the same sort of luck. Their lack of defensive containment against the Fever’s backcourt was a big reason why.

In addition to Clark’s performance, her 10th double-double of the season – which also saw the rookie grab five rebounds – Kelsey Mitchell added a season-high-tying 28 points. In the frontcourt, Aliyah Boston posted 14 points and nine rebounds, while NaLyssa Smith tallied 13 points and nine rebounds.

For the Mercury, Kahleah Copper’s strong play from the gold medal game at the Paris Olympics continued as she scored 32 points, going 18-for-19 at the foul line. Natasha Cloud scored 19 points, Diana Taurasi added 16 and Brittney Griner chipped in 10.

The Fever started the game on fire, jumping out to a 30-12 lead with less than two minutes to play in the first quarter. Mitchell had 10 points, two rebounds and a block during that stretch.

Indiana kept piling it on in the second quarter, increasing its lead to 28 points with a 15-4 run that was sparked by a deep three-pointer from Clark that Boston assisted.

The Mercury charged back in the third quarter with a 25-7 run to take a one-point lead on a 3-pointer from Copper, assisted by Cloud. The Fever pulled back ahead before the end of the third frame, and then cushioned their lead to as many as 13 points in the fourth.

Indiana won the rebounding battle by eight, had 23 assists on 34 made baskets and outscored the Mercury 34-10 in the paint.

The end result marked the first time that the Fever have beaten the Mercury three times in the regular season as they swept the season series.