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Caitlin Clark Sits Out Fever-Mercury Rematch as Indiana Pursues Second Meeting Victory

The Indiana Fever face the Phoenix Mercury without star guard Caitlin Clark as she manages a lingering back issue during the second game of a back-to-back.

Asude Karataş • 10 Temmuz 2026 04:30 • 3 dk okuma • 9 görüntülenme

The Indiana Fever will face the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday without Caitlin Clark, who is sidelined due to a back injury sustained during the team's four-game road trip. The matchup represents the third and final regular-season meeting between the teams, with significant playoff implications as both squads position themselves in the WNBA standings.

İçindekiler ›

Clark's Injury Management and Team Roster Updates
Mercury Adds Depth With Whitcomb's Return
Lingering Tension From Previous Encounter

Clark's Injury Management and Team Roster Updates

Clark appeared in Wednesday's matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks, playing 16 minutes on a minutes restriction while accumulating 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Coach Stephanie White opted for caution, ruling Clark unavailable for the second night of the back-to-back. The guard indicated she hopes to increase her minutes to 25 when the Fever meet the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, showing gradual progression in her recovery timeline.

Aliyah Boston, who missed Wednesday's contest against Los Angeles due to a lower leg injury, is expected to return for Thursday's matchup. The Fever's front court leader's availability provides a boost to Indiana's lineup depth against a Phoenix team looking to solidify its playoff positioning.

Mercury Adds Depth With Whitcomb's Return

Phoenix will welcome back guard Sami Whitcomb to the lineup after she missed the first 22 games recovering from a knee procedure. Whitcomb underwent arthroscopy to remove a loose body from her left knee in May following a rebounding mishap during practice. Head coach Nate Tibbetts confirmed Whitcomb will operate under a minutes restriction, though her veteran presence and shooting ability are expected to enhance the Mercury's offensive firepower.

Lingering Tension From Previous Encounter

The June 24 meeting between these teams delivered a contentious moment when Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas made contact with Clark's throat during play. The WNBA upgraded the incident to a Flagrant 2 violation and suspended Thomas for one game. Thomas maintained the contact was unintentional, stating she remained unaware of the play until reviewing video after the game. Clark subsequently addressed the online harassment directed toward Thomas and her teammates, advocating for an end to the vitriol surrounding the incident.

Why is Caitlin Clark unavailable for Thursday's game?+

Clark is managing a back injury that has persisted throughout the Fever's four-game road trip. Coach Stephanie White is practicing caution by holding her out during the second night of the back-to-back schedule, though Clark appeared in limited minutes the previous evening.

What happened in the previous Fever-Mercury game on June 24?+

Phoenix defeated Indiana 111-109 in a closely contested matchup. During the game, Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas made contact with Clark's throat, which the WNBA later classified as a Flagrant 2 violation. Thomas received a one-game suspension for the incident.

What did Alyssa Thomas say about the throat contact incident?+

Thomas denied any malicious intent and described the contact as a complete accident. She stated she was unaware the play had even occurred until she reviewed video footage after the game concluded.

When and where will the Fever-Mercury game be played?+

The game is scheduled for Thursday, July 9, at 10 p.m. ET at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. The matchup will be broadcast nationally on Prime Video with local coverage on WOI Local 5 and WQAD in Iowa.

Is Sami Whitcomb expected to play for Phoenix?+

Yes, Whitcomb was upgraded to available after missing the first 22 games of the season due to knee surgery. She will be available Thursday but will operate under a minutes restriction as she returns from the procedure.

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