Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) and Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi (3) speak at half courtroom throughout a free throw on June 30, 2024, at Footprint Middle in Phoenix. After almost a month off, celebrity rookie guard Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever return to motion and proceed their pursuit of a spot within the WNBA playoffs once they host the Phoenix Mercury on Friday.
The Fever (11-15) misplaced to the Dallas Wings 101-93 of their last recreation earlier than the break for the Summer season Olympics. Indiana had received its earlier two video games earlier than shedding to Dallas, topping the Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx.
Earlier than the break, Clark tallied 10 assists and 4 factors in her first WNBA All-Star recreation, serving to the WNBA All-Stars prime the U.S. Olympic staff. Two of her Fever teammates — Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston — had been additionally All-Stars. Mitchell scored 13 factors whereas Boston notched 4 factors.
Subsequent yr’s All-Star Sport might be performed in Indianapolis, the place Clark and her teammates will seemingly take heart stage in entrance of their residence followers.
Nevertheless, that is a methods away. Proper now, the Fever are hoping that the latest Olympic break has rejuvenated them as they shoot for a playoff berth.
“I feel the Olympic break undoubtedly does assist for a staff that hasn’t been collectively for a very long time, like us,” Fever guard Erica Wheeler mentioned. “To have the ability to get these practices and have the ability to get some actual runs in and actually hit it onerous and have days off I feel is tremendous vital.”
Added Fever ahead NaLyssa Smith: “It has been enormous for us. It is time to work on us. You get to work on the small issues, defensively, offensive rebounds.”
Clark is averaging 17.1 factors and a league-leading 8.2 assists whereas taking pictures 32.7 p.c from 3-point vary. The Olympic break supplied a breather for Clark, who performed in her last school recreation on April 7 after which made her preseason WNBA debut on Might 3. Basically, the rookie has been enjoying almost continuous since final November.
Talking of breaks, the three Olympians on the Mercury did not get a lot of 1. Diana Taurasi, Kahleah Copper and Brittney Griner might be enjoying of their second recreation since coming back from France with Staff USA’s eighth consecutive gold medal. Behind 29 factors from Copper, the Mercury (14-12) beat the host Chicago Sky 85-65 on Thursday of their return to WNBA motion.
“The thrilling factor for us and her is that we had been getting her in her prime,” first-year Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts mentioned of Copper.
Copper, who performed essential minutes within the fourth quarter and hit the game-winning free throws in Staff USA’s gold medal win over France, ranks second within the WNBA in scoring this season with a median of 23.4 factors per recreation.
“That is what Kah does,” Taurasi mentioned of Copper. “She’s competed all yr for us and we knew when issues get tight, she’s all the time the alternative. She will do issues that nobody else can do on our staff — nationwide staff or right here on the Mercury.”
–Discipline Degree Media
