Indiana Fever beat Phoenix Mercury in contested July 9 showdown

The Indiana Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury 92‑89 on July 9, 2026, in a tightly contested WNBA game at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 29 points, including a decisive layup in the final seconds, while Aliyah Boston added 21 points. Phoenix’s top scorers were Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper, each with 22 points.

The matchup was framed by a heated rivalry that intensified after the June 24 incident in which Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas drove a fist into Caitlin Clark’s throat. Thomas received a Flagrant‑2 foul, a one‑game suspension and a $1,000 fine, and later reported receiving death threats. Clark and Fever star Aliyah Boston publicly condemned the assault, and the controversy has kept the series in the national spotlight.

The game also marked a milestone for Mercury veteran DeWanna Bonner, who passed 8,000 career points, becoming the third player in WNBA history to do so. Despite the loss, the Mercury have seen a resurgence from Kahleah Copper, who recently posted a 41‑point performance and improved her shooting percentages.

Looking ahead, the Fever will travel to Las Vegas for their next game, while the Mercury remain in Las Vegas the following day.