Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury WNBA Odds and Prediction
Indiana finally came back to Earth after a five-game winning streak, the franchise’s longest since 2015. The Fever fell Tuesday evening at the Los Angeles Sparks, 100-91. It was the eighth straight game the team played without Caitlin Clark, and 17th this season. Indiana is now 9-8 in those games.
At 17-13, the Fever are fifth in the WNBA league standings, 1.5 games behind the fourth-place Phoenix Mercury. Indiana defeated the Mercury in their only other meeting this season, 107-101, just over a week ago.
Phoenix is struggling after a 15-6 start, having lost five of its last eight games. However, the team has won three of four at home, including an 82-66 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday.
The Mercury opened as 6.5-point favourites to win on the WNBA odds, with the total set at 170.5.
Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury WNBA Odds and Betting Trends
Indiana has the advantage in recent history against the Mercury, winning six straight. The Fever are 5-0 against the spread in their last five meetings with Phoenix, but have only won three times in the last 10 games on the road in this series.
The Mercury are 3-5 straight up and against the spread in their last eight games. The team has played to the under in five of its last six contests, but played to the over in 17 of 24 against Indiana.
Indiana Fever
Kelsey Mitchell (19.5 ppg) and Aliyah Boston (15.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg) have taken over the Fever in Clark’s extended absence. After leading Indiana in scoring just twice in the first 14 games of the season, Mitchell has led the Fever 13 times in the past 16 games, averaging 21.8 points per game during that stretch.
Boston is averaging 14.4 points and 8.4 rebounds during that same stretch, and the team has gotten solid performances from Sophie Cunningham, Aari McDonald and Natasha Howard in Clark’s absence. This is the third time Clark has missed significant time this season. She has only played in 13 games this season.
Phoenix Mercury
At 18-13, this is a breakthrough season for the Mercury, who went 43-73 across the past three seasons, making the playoffs twice with losing records and getting swept both times. Long-time stalwarts Diana Taurasi (retired), Brittney Griner (signed with Atlanta Dream as free agent) and Natasha Cloud (traded) departed in the offseason.
In their place arrived veterans Alyssa Thomas, a six-time WNBA All-Defence selection from the Connecticut Sun, who is third on the team with 16 points, to go with a league-leading nine assists per game. Her 8.4 rebounds also have her in the league’s top tier. Satou Sabally (17.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg) came over from the Dallas Wings, and Sami Whitcomb (10.2 ppg) arrived from the Seattle Storm.
Most recently, DeWanna Bonner (10.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg in 10 games with Phoenix) was acquired from the Fever.
WNBA Prediction: Who Will Win Fever vs. Mercury?
McDonald (27 points) and Boston (22 points, 12 rebounds) paced the Fever in a 107-101 victory over the Mercury last week. Thomas had 32 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists while Kahleah Copper added 22 points. Copper is second on the team with 16.3 points per game for Phoenix.
Getting this game at home should make the difference for the Mercury, who are 10-4 at PHX Arena. Look for the team to hold off Indiana this time around, 90-85.
