Mitchell’s Scorching Streak Sets Fever for Fiery Showdown with the Mercury

After lighting up the scoreboard with 35 points in a win over the Sky, Kelsey Mitchell and the Indiana Fever return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday with their sights set on cooling off the Phoenix Mercury in a key inter-conference clash.

Riding a two-game winning streak, Indiana (14-12) has begun to find its groove in the home stretch of the regular season, fueled by Mitchell’s sizzling offense and a balanced team effort that’s kept them right in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. With an 8-6 home record and a recent stretch of strong performances, the Fever are starting to burn brighter at just the right time.

Mitchell, averaging 22.2 points over the last 10 games, has been the flamethrower for Indiana, especially from beyond the arc. The Fever average 8.2 threes per game—seventh in the WNBA—and Mitchell’s long-range stroke has been crucial, knocking down nearly 38.3% from downtown. But she’s not alone. Second-year star Aliyah Boston continues to be a pillar of strength in the paint, averaging 15.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, and nearly 4 assists per contest.

On the other side, the Phoenix Mercury (16-9) bring their own brand of desert heat into Indy. Led by Alyssa Thomas and a crew that knows how to get it done in the paint, Phoenix is 7-5 on the road and boasts a deep, physical frontcourt. Thomas averages a near triple-double with 15.7 points, 8 boards, and 9.4 assists per game, while veteran Sami Whitcomb has averaged over 11 points in the past 10 outings.

Phoenix holds a narrow edge in points allowed per game (79.8 to Indiana’s 80.4), but Indiana edges them out in scoring (84.4 to 83.1), making this first-season meeting a statistical toss-up. The Fever have gone 6-4 in their last 10 while Phoenix is an even 5-5.

One key factor? The Fever will have to dig deep without Caitlin Clark, who remains sidelined with a groin injury. Her absence puts even more spotlight on Mitchell and Boston to carry the torch—and potentially scorch a Mercury defense that’s prone to giving up second-chance opportunities.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in Indianapolis. And with playoff positioning tightening, this one could go a long way toward separating the playoff-bound from the bubble teams.