Wednesday’s game between the Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury meant the return of DeWanna Bonner to Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Bonner, a marquee offseason signing by the Fever, played just nine games for Indiana before being waived after it was assessed she wasn’t a good fit with the team. Bonner quickly landed back in Phoenix, where she started her WNBA career and could be reunited with fiancee Alyssa Thomas.
The Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd welcomed her back to Indianapolis with a chorus of boos when she checked into the game and whenever she touched the ball.
Takeaways: Aari McDonald, Aliyah Boston lead Fever to high-water mark of season with win vs. Mercury
While Bonner’s return dominated the pregame intrigue, Aari McDonald was the story once the game tipped. The player the Fever added after waiving Bonner on June 25, scored 17 points in the first half on 6-of-7 shooting including 3-of-3 from behind the arc. McDonald finished with 27 points and Aliyah Boston took over in the fourth quarter finishing with 22 points and 12 rebounds — her fourth straight double-double since the All-Star Break — as the Fever beat the Mercury, 107-101, for one of their more impressive wins of the season.
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The win moves Indiana to 15-12 and three games above .500 for the first time this season.
Fever star Caitlin Clark missed her sixth straight game with a right groin injury.
Here’s a full box score from Wednesday’s game:
Indiana Fever vs Phoenix Mercury box score, stats
Fever stats: How many points did Kelsey Mitchell?
NameMinFG3FGFTRebAstPtsNatasha Howard233-60-00-0636Aliyah Boston306-110-010-1312122Kelsey Mitchell223-101-31-2338Sophie Cunningham304-61-33-43112Aari McDonald317-113-410-100427Damiris Dantas104-62-32-23112Chloe Bibby132-42-44-50110Makayla Timpson50-00-00-0100Sydney Colson133-62-50-0048Lexie Hull230-20-22-2512Totals–32-6211-2432-383319107
Mercury stats: How many points did Alyssa Thomas score?
NameMinFG3FGFTRebAstPtsAlyssa Thomas3414-220-14-515732Natasha Mack122-40-00-0314Satou Sabally243-140-53-5519Kahleah Cooper316-102-28-81122Monique Akoa Makani141-20-00-0112DeWanna Bonner211-40-12-3104Kathryn Westbeld172-32-20-0326Sami Whitcomb266-103-73-31318Kitija Laksa90-10-10-0000Lexi Held121-30-22-2124Totals–36-737-2122-263118101
Fever vs Mercury score by quarter
Mercury30202229—101Fever20351933—107
Did Caitlin Clark play today vs Phoenix Mercury?
No, the Fever star missed her sixth straight game with a right groin injury.
What is Indiana Fever’s record?
The Fever are 15-12 and their three games over .500 is the high-water mark for the season so far.
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