The Indiana Fever secured their fourth consecutive victory without star guard Caitlin Clark, defeating the Phoenix Mercury 92-89 on Thursday night. Kelsey Mitchell led the scoring with 29 points, including the go-ahead layup with 10 seconds remaining in the game.
Aliyah Boston, returning from injury, contributed 21 points for the Fever. Rookie Raven Johnson saw increased playing time in Clark's absence, scoring 6 points.
The win improved the Fever's record to 4-0 in games Clark has missed this season. However, context indicates that only one of these victories, against the Las Vegas Aces, was against a team with a winning record. The Aces were without their star player, A'ja Wilson, due to injury during that matchup. The other wins came against the expansion Portland Fire, the Los Angeles Sparks, and the Mercury.
Clark was ruled out for Thursday's game against Phoenix despite playing 16 minutes the previous night against the Sparks and stating her body felt "great." Fever coach Stephanie White had previously indicated that Clark and Boston would alternate playing in back-to-back games, with Clark active against Los Angeles and Boston against Phoenix.
Social media commentary has often focused on Clark's defensive capabilities and her impact on the team's performance. Despite the Fever's success in games without her, the team allowed 53 points in the first half against the Mercury, shooting 55% from the field. The ongoing narrative surrounding Clark's absence and the team's performance continues to generate discussion among fans and analysts.