The Indiana Fever wrapped up their season with a win over the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night.

In the Fever’s 98-89 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Caitlin Clark led the team with 29 points. This game marked her 10th double-double, as she also recorded 10 assists and five rebounds, shining in her first game back after the Olympic break. Clark is just one double-double away from breaking the WNBA record for most ever recorded by a rookie guard, previously held by Courtney Vandersloot in 2011 with 11.

The Fever seemed to thrive after the month-long Olympic pause, displaying enthusiasm and a strong offensive performance. In contrast, the Mercury—featuring gold medalists Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and Kahleah Copper—looked somewhat sluggish. Indiana surged ahead, taking a 28-point lead in the first half; however, the Mercury rallied in the second half and took the lead in the third quarter. Despite this, Indiana remained composed.

“This is significant. It defines where we aim to be for the remainder of the season,” stated Clark, who made 8 of 16 shots, including 4 of 11 from beyond the arc. “To push through and secure this win is a pivotal step forward.”

Clark netted three 3-pointers in the first half, scoring 16 of her 29 points within the first 13 minutes. By halftime, four Fever players had reached double figures—Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and NaLyssa Smith. However, the Fever struggled at the start of the second half. Copper spearheaded a remarkable 36-9 run for the Mercury, propelling them into a lead with just 2:42 left in the third quarter, but Indiana quickly rebounded to regain a double-digit advantage, clinching their 12th victory of the season.

With 5:07 left in the third quarter, a confrontation occurred between Mercury’s Natasha Cloud and Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell during a screen. After Mitchell pushed Cloud, Cloud retaliated, leading to double technical fouls being issued.

With 7:07 remaining, Griner elbowed Boston while battling for position under the basket. This foul marked Griner’s fifth and forced her from the game, which she protested while heading to the bench, earning her a technical foul.

In addition to Clark’s performance, Mitchell contributed 28 points, while Boston and Smith added 14 and 13, respectively, for Indiana.

Just a few days prior, Griner, Taurasi, and Copper celebrated winning a gold medal with the U.S. women’s national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In that game, Copper led with 32 points, while Cloud scored 19, Taurasi 16, and Griner added 10.