Whitcomb makes long-awaited return from injury

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Sami Whitcomb made her long-awaited return from injury, stepping back onto the court for the first time this season as the Phoenix Mercury suffered a 92-89 loss to the Indiana Fever.

While the result was a frustrating one for Phoenix, Whitcomb's comeback provided a welcome boost after the veteran Australian guard spent weeks recovering from arthroscopic surgery on her left knee.

The 37-year-old eased back into the rotation, playing 11 minutes off the bench. Although her trademark three-point shot wasn't falling, Whitcomb finished with two points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal, knocking down both of her free throws in a performance that reflected a player shaking off the rust after an extended layoff.

Her impact extended beyond the box score.

Whitcomb posted a team-best plus-eight during her minutes on the floor as the Mercury outscored Indiana while she was on court, a reminder of the spacing, communication and experience she brings to one of the WNBA's most talented rosters.

Phoenix looked on track for victory after taking a 53-47 lead into halftime and extending its advantage to double figures early in the third quarter. But the Fever responded behind an outstanding backcourt performance from Kelsey Mitchell, who poured in a game-high 29 points and added eight assists, while Aliyah Boston controlled the paint with 21 points and nine rebounds.

Indiana outscored Phoenix 45-36 after halftime to snatch the three-point victory despite playing without injured superstar Caitlin Clark.

For the Mercury, Alyssa Thomas continued her outstanding campaign with 22 points, seven assists and six rebounds, while Kahleah Copper also scored 22 points. Valeriane Ayayi added 10 points and Marta Suarez provided an energetic spark from the bench with 10 points in just 11 minutes.

Whitcomb's return was one of the night's biggest positives for Phoenix.

One of the WNBA's most respected veterans, Whitcomb rejoined the Mercury in the off-season after playing a key role in the club's run to the 2025 WNBA Finals. Last year she averaged 9.1 points per game and led the team with 86 made three-pointers, giving Phoenix one of the league's most reliable perimeter threats.

Her absence left the Mercury without an experienced floor spacer and vocal leader, qualities that cannot always be measured statistically. Even on a night when she missed all five of her attempts from beyond the arc, Whitcomb's movement without the ball, defensive positioning and composure were evident.

The Mercury are expected to build her minutes gradually as she regains match fitness, but her availability couldn't come at a better time. With the season entering a decisive stretch, Phoenix will welcome the return of a player whose championship experience and professionalism have made her one of the competition's most dependable role players.

The loss may have stung, but for the Mercury, having Whitcomb back in uniform may prove to be the bigger story over the weeks ahead.