Indiana Fever 'limitless' when young core plays like it did for most of win over Mercury

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Fever's 95-86 victory against the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night was perhaps the best display yet of what the future may hold for Fever basketball. Indiana (10-14) still has a losing record, but the has strung together seven wins in its past 11 games.

Two days after losing to the 6-17 Washington Mystics, Indiana responded in a big way. Against Phoenix, three Fever players notched double-doubles and three scored 20 or more points.

These are both first-time occurrences this season, and what makes the feat even more remarkable is the relative inexperience the core group of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell and NaLyssa Smith have playing together.

Insider:Caitlin Clark a passing maestro with 13 more assists. 'You just have to be ready.'

Takeaways:All-Stars Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston shine in Fever win vs. Mercury

"I think we're limitless," Mitchell said. "The maturity behind our youth is underrated. These guys, it's not their first rodeo even though they're rookies or young players."

Clark recorded her fifth-straight double-double with 20 points, 13 assists Friday. Boston got back on track with 21 points and 13 rebounds. And Smith grabbed her 10th rebound of the night at the last second to pair with her 14 points for a double-double.

Mitchell led the Fever with 28 points, 13 coming in a sizzling Fever first quarter. The 28-year-old two-time WNBA All-Star said many of her standout performances come when she draws on the energy of her teammates and Gainbridge Fieldhouse's constant sellout crowds.

"This game is mental more than it is physical," Mitchell said. " ... We've kinda balanced how we can all feed our games off one another, and it kinda plays in our favor because we don't go out there with a mindset of, 'I don't wanna play with this person,' or 'I don't wanna play with that person.'"

While Clark is right behind her with 16.8 points per game and leads the Fever with 7.8 assists per game, Mitchell is the Fever's top scorer with 16.9 per game. Coach Christie Sides described the former Ohio State standout as a pro's pro, citing her efficiency and versatility as reasons why she makes for such a great leader of Indiana's offense.

"Kelsey is one of the most dynamic guards in this league, one of the best guards in this league," Sides said. " ... Just a dynamic, dynamic guard that can get downhill, create, finish at the rim, kick to shooters and she just collapses the defense."

Mitchell never turned the ball over against the Mercury, and only averages 1.9 turnovers per game.

She, Clark and Boston will all represent the Fever at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, and Mitchell confidently said this group's success will be key in Indiana's quest to "put the league on notice." Sides commended the Fever quartet's success on the stat sheet as well as the final scoreboard Friday, but the fourth quarter was troubling for the second-year head coach.

Indiana led 81-58 heading into the final 10 minutes of play and led by 31 at one point in the third quarter. However, the Mercury outscored the Fever 28-14 in the fourth quarter, led by a 36-point performance from Team USA Olympian Kahleah Copper.

Although Indiana successfully closed out its victory heading into a two-game road trip against the Minnesota Lynx and Dallas Wings, Sides felt the concerning fourth quarter was a sign of the Fever's youth.

"For me right now, it's about giving up 36 points in 11 minutes," Sides said. " ... We're the youngest team in the league by far, but we've gotta not have those lapses."

Contact Kyle Smedley with comments via email at KSmedley@Gannett.com or via X @KyleSmedley_.