Phoenix Mercury vs Indiana Fever Match Player Stats

Phoenix Mercury vs Indiana Fever match player stats from their June 22, 2026 meeting provide a useful example of how one dramatic quarter can reshape an entire WNBA game. Indiana Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury 86-77 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, overcoming a 13-point first-quarter deficit and turning the game around with a 35-point second quarter followed by a 30-point third. The official WNBA record lists the game as June 22, 2026, while the game information also shows June 23 in the local event timing.

For anyone reviewing Phoenix Mercury vs Indiana Fever match player stats, the headline numbers are clear. Caitlin Clark led Indiana with 24 points and nine assists, Kelsey Mitchell added 22 points, and Monique Billings produced a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Phoenix was led by Kahleah Copper with 20 points, while Alyssa Thomas contributed 19 points, five rebounds and nine assists.

The final score alone, however, does not explain why Indiana won. The deeper story sits in the quarter-by-quarter scoring, rebounding gap, three-point production, and the way Indiana recovered after an unusually poor opening period.

Game Overview

The matchup took place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in front of 15,198 spectators. Indiana entered the game at 10-7, while Phoenix was listed by the WNBA at 5-12 immediately after the contest. The Fever won 86-77, taking the first game of the regular-season series between the teams.

The quarter scores were:

Quarter	Phoenix Mercury	Indiana Fever
First	19	6
Second	22	35
Third	11	30
Fourth	25	15
Final	77	86

The most important number in the table is the second-quarter turnaround. Indiana went from scoring only six points in the opening period to producing 35 in the second. The Fever then added 30 more in the third.

That 65-point middle stretch effectively changed the game.

The official WNBA recap noted that Indiana’s six first-quarter points were tied for its fewest in any quarter since 2018 and its fewest in a first quarter since 2016. The response was immediate and significant, with Indiana tying the game 41-41 at halftime.

Phoenix Mercury vs Indiana Fever Match Player Stats

The player numbers reveal two different offensive approaches.

Phoenix received 20 points from Kahleah Copper and 19 from Alyssa Thomas. Thomas also supplied nine assists, making her the primary facilitator in a game where Phoenix needed consistent creation.

Indiana had two 20-point scorers. Caitlin Clark finished with 24 points and nine assists, while Kelsey Mitchell scored 22. Monique Billings added 14 points and 10 rebounds, giving Indiana an important interior contribution.

Phoenix Mercury Leaders

Player	Key performance
Kahleah Copper	20 points
Alyssa Thomas	19 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists
Natasha Mack	7 rebounds
Alyssa Thomas	9 assists

Copper was Phoenix’s leading scorer. Her 20 points represented more than one quarter of the Mercury’s 77 total points.

Thomas was particularly important because of her all-around role. Her 19 points were close to Copper’s total, but the nine assists added another layer to her influence. Rather than functioning only as a scorer, Thomas was also responsible for creating opportunities for teammates.

The WNBA also reported that Thomas reached 500 assists with a franchise faster than any player in league history at the time, surpassing Caitlin Clark’s previous mark in four fewer games.

That milestone adds useful context to the nine-assist performance. Her passing was not simply an isolated feature of this particular game. It reflected a broader part of her role as a high-level playmaker.

Indiana Fever Leaders

Player	Key performance
Caitlin Clark	24 points, 9 assists
Kelsey Mitchell	22 points
Monique Billings	14 points, 10 rebounds
Aliyah Boston	8 points, 9 rebounds
Lexie Hull	8 points, 2 rebounds

Clark led all scorers with 24 points and also recorded nine assists. Mitchell supplied 22 points, meaning the Fever’s two leading scorers combined for 46 points.

That is especially important because Indiana scored 86 points overall. Clark and Mitchell therefore accounted for more than half of the Fever’s total scoring.

Billings provided the interior balance. Her 14 points and 10 rebounds produced her first double-double of the season, according to the official WNBA recap.

Aliyah Boston had a quieter scoring night with eight points on 2-of-9 shooting, but her nine rebounds still contributed to Indiana’s control of the glass.

Caitlin Clark’s 24 Points and Nine Assists

Caitlin Clark’s performance is one of the clearest reasons the Phoenix Mercury vs Indiana Fever match player stats attracted attention.

Clark finished with 24 points and nine assists. The WNBA reported that she scored 15 points during Indiana’s 35-point second quarter, helping the Fever recover from the six-point opening period.

The timing of those points matters.

A 24-point performance spread evenly across four quarters would tell one story. Clark’s production during Indiana’s comeback tells another. Her second-quarter scoring arrived when the Fever needed an offensive response after producing only six points in the opening period.

The official recap also noted that Clark had extended her streak of games with at least 20 points and five assists to six consecutive contests, described by the WNBA as the longest such streak in league history.

Her nine assists also show that Indiana did not depend solely on individual scoring. Clark was involved in creating shots for teammates while still carrying the highest scoring total on the team.

Kelsey Mitchell’s 22-Point Contribution

Kelsey Mitchell finished with 22 points, giving Indiana a second major scoring option.

The WNBA reported that Clark and Mitchell combined to make 16 of Indiana’s 27 field goals, including six three-pointers.

That combination was important because Phoenix could not focus exclusively on stopping Clark.

When one perimeter scorer receives defensive attention, another efficient scorer can change the geometry of the floor. Mitchell’s 22 points meant Indiana had a second player capable of turning possessions into points without requiring Clark to create every shot.

This is one of the more useful lessons from the box score. Looking only at Clark’s 24 points misses the offensive structure behind Indiana’s comeback.

Alyssa Thomas Nearly Matched Phoenix’s Leading Scorer

Alyssa Thomas finished with 19 points, five rebounds and nine assists for Phoenix.

Her nine assists matched Clark’s nine assists, creating an interesting statistical parallel between the teams’ primary creators.

Thomas’s role was particularly significant because Phoenix’s offense needed both scoring and distribution. She delivered both.

Her five rebounds also helped Phoenix compete physically, although the overall rebounding numbers favored Indiana.

The combination of 19 points and nine assists meant Thomas was directly involved in a large portion of Phoenix’s offensive production. Yet the Mercury still finished with only 77 points.

That gap between individual creation and team scoring is important. Strong individual box-score numbers do not automatically produce efficient team offense.

Kahleah Copper Leads Phoenix in Scoring

Kahleah Copper scored 20 points, making her Phoenix’s top scorer.

Copper’s scoring gave the Mercury a reliable offensive focal point, but Indiana managed to prevent Phoenix from turning its early advantage into a sustained lead.

Phoenix opened the game with 19 points while Indiana managed only six. At that stage, Copper and the Mercury appeared to have established control.

The problem came later.

Indiana changed the game’s scoring pattern dramatically in the second and third quarters. Phoenix scored 22 points in the second but only 11 in the third. Indiana scored 35 and 30 during those same periods.

The result was a 54-33 advantage for Indiana across the second and third quarters.

That 21-point difference in the middle two quarters was larger than the final nine-point margin.

The Rebounding Difference

One of the most important team-level Phoenix Mercury vs Indiana Fever match player stats is the rebounding battle.

Phoenix finished with 29 rebounds.

Indiana collected 39.

That gave the Fever a 10-rebound advantage.

Monique Billings led Indiana with 10 rebounds, while Aliyah Boston added nine. Phoenix’s Natasha Mack led the Mercury with seven rebounds.

A 10-rebound difference can create extra possessions, particularly when offensive rebounds extend possessions that otherwise would have ended.

The difference also shows why Indiana’s victory cannot be explained only through three-point shooting. Indiana shot only 29 percent from three-point range, compared with Phoenix’s 20 percent, but the Fever also controlled the glass and produced more free throws.

Shooting Comparison

The overall shooting numbers were relatively close from the field.

Phoenix:

• 28-of-68 from the field
• 41 percent field-goal shooting
• 5-of-25 from three
• 20 percent from three
• 16-of-21 from the free-throw line
• 76 percent from the free-throw line

Indiana:

• 27-of-64 from the field
• 42 percent field-goal shooting
• 10-of-34 from three
• 29 percent from three
• 22-of-29 from the free-throw line
• 76 percent from the free-throw line

At first glance, the field-goal numbers do not explain a nine-point victory. Indiana actually made one fewer field goal.

The difference becomes clearer when three-point and free-throw production are considered.

Indiana made five more three-pointers than Phoenix. At three points each, that represents a 15-point difference in made threes.

Indiana also made six more free throws.

Those advantages offset Phoenix’s slightly higher raw field-goal total.

Why the Three-Point Gap Mattered

Phoenix made only five of 25 three-point attempts.

Indiana made 10 of 34.

Neither team shot the ball especially well from deep, but Indiana generated twice as many made three-pointers.

The Fever’s 29 percent rate was nine percentage points higher than Phoenix’s 20 percent rate.

The larger issue was volume combined with makes.

Phoenix attempted 25 threes and converted five. Indiana attempted 34 and converted 10. The Fever therefore generated 30 points from made three-pointers, compared with 15 for Phoenix.

That 15-point difference was larger than the final nine-point margin.

This does not mean three-point shooting alone decided the contest. Basketball outcomes rarely reduce cleanly to one statistic. Indiana also had a significant rebounding advantage and made more free throws.

But the three-point differential was one of the clearest numerical separators.

Free Throws and Possession Pressure

Both teams shot 76 percent from the free-throw line.

The difference was opportunity.

Phoenix went 16-of-21.

Indiana went 22-of-29.

Indiana therefore made six more free throws.

When a game finishes with a nine-point difference, six additional made free throws become highly relevant.

The free-throw numbers also indicate that Indiana generated more opportunities to score without relying on field goals.

This became especially useful after the Fever had built their lead. Free throws can slow the opponent’s comeback by converting defensive pressure into points while stopping the clock.

Turnovers Were Not the Main Difference

Phoenix committed 12 turnovers.

Indiana committed 14.

That gives Phoenix a two-turnover advantage.

In other words, Indiana did not win because it protected the ball better.

This is an important corrective to a common box-score assumption. A team can turn the ball over more often and still win if it compensates through shooting, rebounding, free throws, or other areas.

Indiana’s 14 turnovers did not prevent the Fever from building a substantial advantage during the middle quarters.

Phoenix recorded 12 turnovers, but the Mercury could not turn that small possession advantage into enough scoring.

The Second Quarter Changed the Game

The second quarter deserves its own analysis.

Indiana entered the quarter down 13 points after Phoenix led 19-6.

The Fever then scored 35 points.

Phoenix scored 22.

The quarter therefore produced a 13-point swing in Indiana’s favor.

Clark scored 15 points in that period, according to the WNBA’s official recap.

By halftime, the score was tied at 41.

This is a useful example of why quarter-by-quarter analysis is often more informative than simply looking at the final score.

The final margin was nine points, but Indiana’s comeback was largely established before the fourth quarter began.

The Third Quarter Created Separation

If the second quarter restored parity, the third quarter created the decisive advantage.

Indiana scored 30 points.

Phoenix scored only 11.

That was a 19-point advantage in one quarter.

After three quarters, Indiana had built a 71-52 lead.

Phoenix did respond with 25 points in the fourth quarter while Indiana scored 15, but the Mercury needed to overcome a 19-point deficit entering the final period.

The fourth-quarter response reduced the gap but did not erase the damage created earlier.

This is another reason the game should not be described simply as an 86-77 win. The statistical path to the result was much more dramatic.

Phoenix’s Fourth-Quarter Response

Phoenix scored 25 points in the fourth quarter, its highest-scoring quarter of the game.

Indiana scored 15.

The Mercury therefore won the final quarter by 10 points.

That late push demonstrates that Phoenix retained enough offensive ability to make the closing stages competitive.

However, the deficit was already too large.

The fourth-quarter performance also highlights a broader lesson in game analysis: late scoring can change the appearance of a final margin without changing which stretches determined the result.

Indiana’s 65-33 advantage across the second and third quarters was the central statistical event of the game.

Team Statistical Comparison

Category	Phoenix Mercury	Indiana Fever
Final score	77	86
Field goals	28-68	27-64
FG percentage	41%	42%
Three-pointers	5-25	10-34
3PT percentage	20%	29%
Free throws	16-21	22-29
FT percentage	76%	76%
Rebounds	29	39
Assists	19	15
Turnovers	12	14
Steals	5	6
Blocks	2	2

The table illustrates the contrasting strengths of the two teams.

Phoenix had more assists and fewer turnovers.

Indiana had more rebounds, more made three-pointers, more free throws and more total points.

The statistical profile therefore suggests a game where Phoenix had some advantages in ball movement and possession security, while Indiana generated more scoring through shooting range, rebounding and foul-line opportunities.

Phoenix’s Offensive Challenge

Phoenix shot 41 percent from the field, which was close to Indiana’s 42 percent.

That makes the final result more interesting.

The Mercury were not dramatically worse in overall field-goal accuracy. Instead, the problem was how those field goals were distributed across the game.

Phoenix shot 19 points in the first quarter and 22 in the second before falling to 11 in the third.

The third-quarter collapse was therefore the key offensive issue.

A team can finish with a respectable overall field-goal percentage while still losing because its scoring disappears during a critical stretch.

That is exactly what happened here.

Indiana’s Offensive Recovery

Indiana’s offense was almost the reverse of Phoenix’s pattern.

The Fever began with six points.

Then they scored 35, 30 and 15.

The 35-point second quarter was the second-highest scoring quarter for Indiana that season to that point, according to the official recap.

The response was significant because it showed that the six-point first quarter did not become a long-term offensive problem.

Indiana corrected its scoring efficiency quickly.

Clark’s second-quarter scoring was central, while Mitchell provided another major scoring outlet. Billings then contributed on the interior.

The Fever’s comeback was therefore not dependent on one player alone.

What the Box Score Says About Ball Movement

Phoenix finished with 19 assists.

Indiana finished with 15.

That is a four-assist advantage for Phoenix.

A casual reading of the game might therefore suggest Phoenix had the superior passing performance.

But assists should be interpreted alongside scoring efficiency.

Phoenix’s 19 assists helped produce 77 points.

Indiana’s 15 assists helped produce 86 points.

The Fever scored more with fewer assists because their scoring mix included more three-pointers and free throws.

This is a useful example of why one category should rarely be interpreted in isolation.

More assists do not automatically mean more efficient offense.

The Importance of Monique Billings

Monique Billings’ performance deserves attention because it supplied Indiana with a different type of contribution.

Billings finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season.

Her 10 rebounds tied directly into Indiana’s 39-rebound team total.

This was particularly useful against a Phoenix team that had players capable of creating offense from multiple positions.

Billings helped Indiana compete on the glass while also contributing double-digit scoring.

Her performance was a good example of how supporting players can influence the outcome without leading the team in scoring.

Aliyah Boston’s Quiet Statistical Impact

Aliyah Boston scored eight points and shot 2-of-9 from the field.

Those numbers were below what Indiana might normally want from a primary frontcourt scorer.

Yet Boston still collected nine rebounds.

That rebounding contribution mattered because Indiana’s total advantage on the glass was one of the clearest team-level differences.

This is why a player’s value cannot always be assessed from points alone.

Boston’s scoring was limited, but her rebounding helped Indiana maintain control of an important area of the game.

Defensive Activity

Both teams finished with two blocks.

Indiana recorded six steals compared with five for Phoenix.

The difference is small, but it reflects a game in which neither team dominated traditional defensive counting statistics.

The larger defensive story came from Indiana’s ability to limit Phoenix’s scoring during the third quarter.

Phoenix scored only 11 points in that period.

That result matters more than the small difference in steals or blocks.

Defense often appears most clearly in the opponent’s scoring output rather than in individual defensive categories.

What This Game Reveals About the Matchup

The Phoenix Mercury vs Indiana Fever match player stats show that the game was decided by several connected factors rather than one individual statistic.

The first was the massive middle-quarter swing.

The second was Indiana’s three-point advantage.

The third was the Fever’s 10-rebound edge.

The fourth was Indiana’s six additional made free throws.

Phoenix’s 19 assists and 12 turnovers showed some strengths, but they were not enough to compensate for the scoring differences elsewhere.

The game also demonstrated the value of resilience. Indiana produced only six points in the first quarter and still finished with 86.

A Practical Way to Read This Box Score

If you are using player statistics to understand this game rather than simply record the final result, five numbers deserve priority:

1. 24 points and 9 assists from Caitlin Clark. This identifies Indiana’s primary offensive creator and leading scorer.
2. 22 points from Kelsey Mitchell. Her production prevented Phoenix from concentrating exclusively on Clark.
3. 20 points from Kahleah Copper and 19 from Alyssa Thomas. Phoenix had two major scoring contributors but still finished with 77 points.
4. 39 rebounds for Indiana versus 29 for Phoenix. The 10-rebound difference shows Indiana’s advantage on the glass.
5. 10 made threes for Indiana versus five for Phoenix. The five-made-three difference created a major scoring gap.

Taken together, these statistics provide a much clearer explanation than the final score alone.

Historical and Statistical Context

The WNBA’s official game recap also recorded a notable milestone for Alyssa Thomas. She reached 500 assists with a franchise faster than any player in WNBA history, surpassing Clark’s previous mark in four fewer games.

That detail is relevant because it connects the individual box score to a larger statistical record.

Thomas was not simply a scorer in this matchup. Her nine assists represented one of the most important playmaking outputs in the game, and the milestone underlined the consistency of her role as a creator.

For readers interested in official statistical research, the WNBA Player Box Score Search provides searchable player-game records from the 1997 season through the present.

Date and Record Clarification

There is an important detail to clarify when publishing this article.

The official WNBA game page identifies the matchup as Monday, June 22, 2026, while the game information lists Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 12:00 AM for Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

This explains why some databases or search results may associate the contest with June 23.

There is also a record discrepancy in the supplied data. The official WNBA recap lists Indiana at 10-7 and Phoenix at 5-12 after the game. The supplied dataset lists Phoenix at 5-13. For a publication intended to be fact-checked, the official WNBA record should be preferred for this specific contest.

The game itself is not in doubt. Indiana defeated Phoenix 86-77, and the official WNBA page confirms the attendance, scoring sequence, officials and principal player performances.

Why the Final Score Can Be Misleading

An 86-77 final suggests a relatively ordinary nine-point victory.

The quarter scores tell a more dramatic story.

Phoenix led 19-6 after one quarter.

The game was tied 41-41 at halftime.

Indiana then led 71-52 after three quarters.

Phoenix won the fourth quarter 25-15.

So the game contained four distinct phases:

1. Phoenix controlled the opening period.
2. Indiana produced a major second-quarter response.
3. Indiana created decisive separation in the third.
4. Phoenix mounted a late comeback.

This sequence is more useful for understanding the contest than simply saying Indiana won by nine.

What Readers Should Take From the Player Stats

The strongest takeaway is that scoring leadership and game control were not identical.

Clark led all scorers with 24 points.

Mitchell followed with 22.

Copper led Phoenix with 20.

Thomas added 19 and nine assists.

But Indiana’s victory came from a broader statistical combination.

The Fever had:

• 39 rebounds
• 10 made three-pointers
• 22 made free throws
• 86 total points

Phoenix had:

• 29 rebounds
• five made three-pointers
• 16 made free throws
• 77 total points

Phoenix’s advantages in assists and turnovers were real, but they were outweighed by Indiana’s scoring advantages.

That is the central lesson of the box score.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who led the Phoenix Mercury in scoring?

Kahleah Copper led Phoenix with 20 points against Indiana.

Who led the Indiana Fever in scoring?

Caitlin Clark led Indiana with 24 points and also recorded nine assists.

How many points did Kelsey Mitchell score?

Kelsey Mitchell scored 22 points for Indiana.

Who had the most rebounds in the game?

Monique Billings led all players with 10 rebounds and recorded 14 points for Indiana.

What was the final score?

Indiana Fever defeated Phoenix Mercury 86-77.

How many assists did Alyssa Thomas have?

Alyssa Thomas recorded nine assists, along with 19 points and five rebounds.

Conclusion

The Phoenix Mercury vs Indiana Fever match player stats show a game shaped by momentum, shooting range, rebounding and timely individual production.

Phoenix started strongly, scoring 19 points in the first quarter while holding Indiana to six. The Fever then responded with 35 points in the second and 30 in the third, transforming a 13-point deficit into a 19-point lead entering the final period.

Caitlin Clark’s 24 points and nine assists led Indiana’s offensive effort, while Kelsey Mitchell supplied 22 points. Monique Billings added 14 points and 10 rebounds, giving the Fever a major interior contribution.

For Phoenix, Kahleah Copper scored 20 points and Alyssa Thomas produced 19 points, five rebounds and nine assists. Phoenix also finished with more assists and fewer turnovers, but Indiana’s advantages in rebounding, three-point makes and free throws created the statistical separation needed for an 86-77 victory.

The most revealing figures are therefore not just the final scoring totals. Indiana’s 39-29 rebounding edge, 10-5 advantage in made three-pointers and 22-16 advantage in made free throws explain much of the difference. The dramatic second and third quarters explain the rest.

For readers studying individual performances, this matchup is a strong example of why a complete box-score analysis should combine player production with team-level context. A 20-point scorer, a nine-assist creator, a double-double and a strong rebounding margin all tell different parts of the same story.