Kahleah Copper scores 28, Caitlin Clark leaves with injury as Mercury defeat Fever

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kahleah Copper made 15 of 16 from the free-throw line and finished with 28 points, and the Phoenix Mercury beat Indiana 111-109 on Wednesday night after Fever star Caitlin Clark left with a back injury.

Clark had 19 points and eight assists in 20 minutes the Fever (10-8). Clark, who was a game-time decision due to a lingering back issue, left with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter and did not return.

Alyssa Thomas had 24 points and eight assists, and DeWanna Bonner scored 11 of her 13 points in the second quarter for the Mercury (6-13). Valeriane Ayayi had a career-high 19 points and rookie Noemie Brochant added 12 points, nine assists and a season-high three steals.

GOOD GRIEF KAH 🫣

Get out the way when Copper is coming thru

PHX-IND | USA Network | WNBA Pride | @Coach
Tap to watch: https://t.co/9bQHrwnvOL pic.twitter.com/VNnx4OhiSF

— WNBA (@WNBA) June 25, 2026

Aliyah Boston was called for a flagrant foul with 2:12 left in the game and the Fever trailing by two. Copper made the ensuing free throws and Ayayi hit two foul shots to make it 104-98 seven seconds later.

Clark had 13 points and three assists as the Fever took a 35-29 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Kelsey Mitchell hit 7 of 9 from 3-point range and finished with 30 points and six assists for Indiana. Aliyah Boston added 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Natasha Mack (foot) did not play for Phoenix.

Caitlin Clark injures back vs. Mercury

Clark appeared to tweak her back in the second quarter when she was fouled shooting a 3-pointer in the second quarter. She fell to the ground and was rubbing her back as she stood up. In the first quarter she back to the tunnel and returned to the bench wearing a wrap around her back.

Caitlin Clark exited Wednesday's game against Phoenix in the 3rd with an apparent back issue. pic.twitter.com/rRrRbsL6Mo

— espnW (@espnW) June 25, 2026

Game gets chippy

The two teams met Monday night and there were six technical fouls called and one ejection.

Clark picked up her fifth technical in that game. The team is petitioning the league to have it rescinded. The physical play continued on Wednesday. On one play in the second quarter, Clark fell to the court as she drove and as players went for the loose ball, Thomas appeared on video to put her fist into Clark’s neck.

No foul was called on the play, but the league could review it for a flagrant foul.

“It was egregious. The fact that it was a no-call … You got to call it,” said Fever coach Stephanie White. “You’re coming in here aware of what happened two nights ago and that (expletive) still happens? Absolutely unacceptable.”

Missed this earlier because I’m siting high up. But #Mercury star Alyssa Thomas pushing down on #Fever star Caitlin Clark’s neck is something the officials should have reviewed.

(To clarify, from my now *deleted* tweet, I’m not sure if this is related to CC’s back, but still.) pic.twitter.com/MMVZttFlSU

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) June 25, 2026

Up next for Mercury

Mercury: Plays Saturday at Toronto.

Fever: Host Los Angeles on Saturday.

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