The Indiana Fever return home to take on the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00PM ET. The Mercury sit at 16-9 and are second in the Western Conference, while the Fever are 14-12 and third in the East.
This will be the first meeting between these two teams during the 2025 season. Last year, Indiana won two of three matchups, including both games played in Indianapolis. The Fever have won two straight games without Caitlin Clark, while Phoenix just snapped a three-game losing streak with a road win against Washington.
Fever Preview – Mitchell Carrying the Load with Clark Out
The Fever are starting to build momentum even without Clark on the floor. They dropped back-to-back games against New York earlier this month but responded by beating Las Vegas by 10 and then dominating Chicago on the road. Indiana has gone 8-6 at home this year and is 7-6 in away games.
Kelsey Mitchell has taken over the scoring duties in Clark’s absence. Mitchell dropped 35 points and hit seven three-pointers in the win over Chicago. She’s now averaging 28.3 points over the last three games and leads the Fever with 20.2 points per game on the season. With Clark out, she’s also taken on more ball-handling responsibilities.
Indiana is averaging 83.1 points per game, which ranks sixth in the league. They shoot 43.3% from the field and 33.8% from beyond the arc, which is fourth in the WNBA. On defense, the Fever allow 79.6 points per game and hold teams to 42.8% shooting. They also rank top-five in steals per game with 6.9 and are one of the best teams at defending the three-point line.
Mercury Preview – Phoenix Ends Losing Streak on the Road
Phoenix ended their three-game losing streak with a strong second half at Washington, outscoring the Mystics 26-12 in the third quarter and pulling away for an 88-72 win. The Mercury had previously lost to New York and Atlanta, giving up 89 and 90 points in those games. They are now 7-5 on the road and 9-4 at home in 2025.
Alyssa Thomas has been doing it all for Phoenix. She posted 27 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals in the win at Washington. Over her last two games, Thomas has totaled 47 points, 24 rebounds, and 16 assists. She enters this matchup averaging 15.7 points, 9.4 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game and leads the team in all three categories.
DeWanna Bonner is also a key piece for Phoenix, averaging 11.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in six games since rejoining the Mercury. She started the season with Indiana before being released and now returns to play against her former team. Phoenix ranks second in the league in made threes per game with 9.7 and shoots 33.8% from deep. On defense, they give up 79.6 points per game and hold opponents to 42.8% shooting, the same as Indiana.
Betting Prediction
Phoenix is a 3.5-point road favorite in this game, with the total set at 165.5. Both teams have gone 14-13 against the spread this season. The over/under is split evenly at 13-14 for Indiana and 12-12-1 for Phoenix. These teams are 5-5 straight up in their last 10 meetings, but Indiana is 6-4 against the spread in those matchups.
Indiana is playing with confidence after two solid wins, but the absence of Clark limits their ceiling. Mitchell has been great, but Phoenix has more offensive options and better rebounding. With Thomas leading the charge and Bonner adding depth, the Mercury should be able to control the tempo. If they continue to shoot well from outside, they should cover the spread. The under has hit in five of the last ten meetings, and this game could stay under if both teams start slow.
Pick: Phoenix -3.5
