​The Phoenix Mercury are preparing to host the Indiana Fever on July 9 at Mortgage Matchup Center for the finale of their season-long, heated series, though one of Indiana’s standout players will miss the upcoming matchup. Fever head coach Stephanie White confirmed on July 8 that Caitlin Clark will be unavailable for the game against the Mercury. White also noted that Aliyah Boston will be out for the night, with the plan for Indiana to rotate in the next game. In her briefing, White explained that due to the back-to-back schedule, Clark will be inactive for this contest, while Boston will sit this one out and return the following night in Phoenix. The decision to rest Clark on this leg of the back-to-back was not surprising; Clark had indicated to reporters on July 7 that she did not expect to participate in both games of the back-to-back stretch, which opens with a July 8 game in Los Angeles. Clark has been dealing with a back injury that flared up during the June 24 game against the Mercury in Indianapolis.
That June 24 game produced a moment that drew attention beyond the box score. During a scramble for a loose ball, Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas collided near Clark as the ball shifted possession. After Clark released the ball, Thomas hovered over her with a clenched fist near Clark’s throat. Thomas later stood and walked away with the ball in the Mercury’s favor. Thomas described the contact as an accidental occurrence and said the team did not realize the fist near Clark’s throat until after fans circulated clips of the incident. Fever players, including Aliyah Boston and Sophie Cunningham, have since addressed the matter in their own podcasts, expressing strong opinions about the incident with Thomas and Clark.
The upcoming Phoenix game will close out the season series between Indiana and Phoenix. As Clark’s status is confirmed for this game, anticipation builds for a matchup that has already had its share of controversy and high-level competition. For fans and followers seeking more updates, reporters are available for tips at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com, and on X at @jennarortiz. The article also invites readers to explore Azcentral Preps Now for high school sports coverage and to subscribe to daily sports newsletters to stay informed on all developments. This report originally appeared in the Arizona Republic and has been updated to reflect Clark’s status for the Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury game.