8
Aug
Match Report
Sami's Phoenix smash Fever for third straight win
Sami Whitcomb #33 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts to a three-point shot against the Indiana Fever during the first half of the WNBA game at PHX Arena on August 07, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Whitcomb continues to have an impact for the red-hot Mercury.
- Sami Whitcomb was a +26 in the Phoenix Mercury win over the Indiana Fever
- The victory is Mercury's third straight win, leaving them within one game of Sandy Brondello's second-placed New York Liberty
- The Fever were without star guard Caitlin Clark
Sami Whitcomb has helped the Phoenix Mercury win their third straight after demolishing the Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever 95-60 at Footprint Center.
Whitcomb's stats from the field may not stand out, hitting just three-from-10 from the field and 2-from-6 from beyond the arc for eight points, but her impact could not be understated. The Australian Opals star, who also grabbed six rebounds, had a plus-minus of +26, the second best in the team behind Alyssa Thomas.
The Mercury established control early, jumping out to a 26-16 lead after the first quarter. Kahleah Copper sparked Phoenix with two early layups, while Sabally knocked down a triple to help build the advantage. Indiana struggled to find rhythm offensively, shooting just 34% from the field in the opening frame.
Phoenix extended their lead to 47-36 by halftime. The pivotal moment came late in the second quarter when Monique Akoa Makani drilled a three-pointer with 48 seconds remaining, giving the Mercury momentum heading into the break. Sophie Cunningham tried to keep the Fever within striking distance, connecting on consecutive three-pointers that briefly cut the deficit to single digits.
The third quarter proved decisive as Phoenix outscored Indiana 26-11 to blow the game open. Thomas controlled the paint with eight points in the quarter, while the Mercury's defense held the Fever to just 23% shooting. At the 3:44 mark, Whitcomb's three-pointer pushed the lead to 23 points, effectively putting the game out of reach.
Phoenix's offensive efficiency was the difference, as they shot an outstanding 44% from the field (34-from-77) compared to Indiana's dismal 34% (23-from-67). The Mercury were particularly lethal from beyond the arc, connecting on 10 three-pointers to Indiana's seven.
Australian Chloe Bibby struggled to have an impact in her nine minutes for Indiana, grabbing one rebound and one steal.
With this win, Phoenix improved to 18-11 and strengthened their position in the WNBA playoff race. The loss dropped Indiana to 17-13, as their four-game winning streak came to an abrupt end.
