Indiana Fever drop to 8th seed with loss in Phoenix, Clark, Bonner jaw at each other

PHOENIX — Indiana Fever finished its final West Coast road trip of the season at 1-2 after losing to the Phoenix Mercury, 85-79, at PHX Arena.

The Fever are now 21-20, falling back down to the eighth and final playoff spot in the WNBA standings. Indiana has three games left in the regular season.

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Here are three observations:

Kelsey Mitchell scores 15 in first quarter

Kelsey Mitchell nearly single-handedly kept the Fever in the game in the first quarter. She was one of three Fever players to score, and she quickly became Indiana’s main option as she navigated the Phoenix defense.

Mitchell went 5-for-6 from the field in the first 10 minutes, making three of her four 3-pointers. She scored 15 of Indiana’s 23 first-quarter points, keeping them within two of Phoenix.

Lexie Hull and Natasha Howard were the only others to score in the first, bucketing four points each.

Mercury second-quarter run holds back Fever

Thanks to Mitchell, the Fever were keeping up with the Mercury for most of the first half. That is, until the final three minutes of the second quarter.

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A bucket from Aliyah Boston with just under three minutes to go in the second quarter put Indiana within three points of the Mercury, 39-36. But that was the last field goal Indiana made that quarter.

Phoenix proceeded to go on a 12-3 run over the final three minutes of the half, frustrating the Fever defense to the point coach Stephanie White needed to take a timeout 30 seconds in. The only points the Fever made over that stretch were free throws from Lexie Hull after she was fouled on a 3-pointer.

In the course of those three minutes, the Fever’s deficit ballooned from three points to 15 by halftime. It was something the Fever could never truly recover from.

Caitlin Clark, DeWanna Bonner jaw during timeout

There’s no love lost between Caitlin Clark and DeWanna Bonner.

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The Fever star has a recent history with Bonner, who originally signed with Indiana in the offseason. Bonner ended up leaving the Fever nine games into the season, citing a bad fit on the roster. She eventually signed with Phoenix in early July, returning to the place that she spent 10 season.

Bonner has played her former team three times now, with the first time coming on July 30 when Phoenix played Indiana at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Bonner was heavily booed when she checked into the game for the first time and whenever she touched the ball.

Clark and Bonner jawed at each other Tuesday after Lexie Hull was called for a foul in the third quarter — a foul the Fever did not agree with. As Bonner was slowly walking back to the Mercury bench, Clark appeared to say something and wave Bonner toward the Mercury bench. Bonner then turned around and, with a ref in front of her, exchanged some words with Clark.

Clark continued to wave Bonner toward the Mercury bench as fans heavily booed. The Fever challenged the call on Hull, and it was unsuccessful.

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Bonner ended up scoring 19 points on her former team, helping the Mercury to their second win over the Fever this season.

Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at capeterson@gannett.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fever vs Mercury: Indiana drops to 8th playoff spot with 85-79 loss