The Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury meet yet again.
Two days after tensions boiled over in the Fever’s 86-77 win over the Mercury on Monday, resulting in five technical fouls and one ejection, both teams will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for their second matchup in three days.
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Indiana’s Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham and Myisha Hines-Allen, in addition to Phoenix’s Dewanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas, all received technical fouls following an altercation in the fourth quarter. Hines-Allen was ejected the following possession after picking up her second technical on a hard foul and shove of Thomas.
“I appreciate (Myisha Hines-Allen) having my back,” said Clark, who finished just short of a double-double with 24 points and nine assists. “It’s nice to have a teammate like that that’s always going to go to battle for their teammates. I thought we did a good job of refocusing.”
Both teams will turn the page heading into Wednesday, but Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said the chaos will likely serve as a motivator for players on both sides, especially the Mercury, who coughed up a 16-point lead.
“That’s the beauty of playing these back to backs. You really get an opportunity to look at the film and make improvements,” Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said. “It got a little chippy in the fourth. I’m sure they’ll remember it and I know we’ll remember it too… we’ve got a competitive group… They’re not afraid of the smoke.”
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) and Indiana Fever forward Myisha Hines-Allen (2) exchange words in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
HIGHLIGHTS: Indiana Fever get back on track with chippy win over Phoenix Mercury
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MORE: Caitlin Clark, DeWanna Bonner altercation leads to five techs, ejection
Kahleah Copper had 20 points to lead the Mercury, who dropped to 5-13 on the season. Thomas added 19 points and nine assists, while Bonner had seven points off the bench. Bonner previously played in Indiana for nine games last season before the Fever granted her request to be waived from the team. She signed with the Mercury midway through the 2025 season and was a key role player in Phoenix’s run to the 2025 WNBA Finals.
USA TODAY will provide live updates for Wednesday’s matchup between the Fever and Mercury. Here’s everything you need to know:
What time is Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury?
The Indiana Fever host the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury: TV, streaming
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Time: 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT)
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Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Indiana Fever host Phoenix Mercury again after chippy win: Time, channel
