WNBA: Mercury vs Fever Predictions, Odds & Analysis

The Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury, both fighting to secure their playoff spots, clash tonight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Fever, currently holding the No. 7 seed in the WNBA standings, will host the Mercury, who are looking to continue their momentum after a two-game winning streak before the Olympic break.

Game Information

• Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
• Date: Friday, 8-16-2024
• Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: Fubo Sports, ION

Prediction and Analysis

Indiana Fever’s Recent Surge

The Indiana Fever have turned their season around after a rough start, going from a 1-8 record to being firmly in playoff contention. Led by Caitlin Clark, the Fever have proven they can compete with top-tier teams, securing wins against the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx in July. This resurgence has made Indiana a formidable opponent, especially at home.

Indiana’s strength at Gainbridge Fieldhouse is evident, as they have won six of their last seven home games. The Fever are also 7-4 against the spread (ATS) at home this season, including two victories against the Phoenix Mercury in their previous matchups.

Given their recent form and strong home court advantage, Indiana is poised to cover the modest spread set by oddsmakers tonight.

Caitlin Clark’s Impact

Caitlin Clark has been a pivotal figure for the Fever, particularly as a distributor. She leads the WNBA with 8.2 assists per game, but her performance in July was even more impressive, averaging 12.5 assists across six games. This included a standout 19-assist game against Dallas just before the break.

Clark’s ability to facilitate the offense has been a game-changer for Indiana. With seven games of 11 or more assists in her last nine outings, she is expected to continue her exceptional playmaking tonight against a Phoenix team that has struggled defensively.

Odds and Betting Trends

Opening Odds at BetOnline

• Spread: Phoenix +135 | Indiana -160
• Moneyline: Phoenix +2.5 (+100) | Indiana -2.5 (-120)
• Over/Under: 175.5 points

Betting Trends

• The Mercury are 16-10 ATS this season, while the Fever have a 14-12 ATS record.
• Indiana is 4-2 ATS in its last six games when favored.
• The Over has hit 17 times in Fever games this season, while the Under has a slight edge in Mercury games at 14-12.
• Indiana has played to an average total of 169.1 points per game, slightly higher than Phoenix’s 168.8 ppg.
• The Fever are 3-0 straight up and ATS in their last three meetings with the Mercury.

The Indiana Fever are in a strong position to extend their success against the Phoenix Mercury, particularly with the home court advantage and the standout play of Caitlin Clark.

Expect Indiana to cover the spread and for Clark to continue her dominant playmaking performance. With both teams showing tendencies to play high-scoring games, the Over is also a strong consideration in this matchup.