What happened: The Indiana Fever beat the Phoenix Mercury 86-77 to take the latest meeting between the teams. The result snaps Phoenix's recent skid and pushes Indiana back into the win column at home.
Why it matters: The win lifts Indiana to 12-8 on the season and keeps the Fever in the thick of the playoff picture, while Phoenix falls to 7-13 and continues to search for traction. Caitlin Clark has been the engine, riding a stretch of dominant scoring-and-passing performances that has reshaped the Fever's ceiling.
By the numbers: Indiana entered at 12-8, averaging 93.0 points and allowing 87.8; Phoenix sat at 7-13, scoring 83.7 and allowing 85.5. Over her last six games Clark posted lines of 32 PTS/10 AST/7 REB, 25/5/3, 21/14/5, 26/7/2 and 26/7/3, recently setting the WNBA record for most consecutive 20-point, 5-assist games.
What to watch: Watch whether Phoenix can steady itself after a 7-13 start and whether Clark extends her record run as Indiana builds on the result.