Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4) celebrates her steal with teammate Monique Akoa Makani (8) against the New York Liberty at PHX Arena, Aug. 30, 2025, in Phoenix. Caitlin Clark will potentially miss her 19th consecutive game because of a right groin injury when the Indiana Fever visit the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night.
The Fever (21-19) dropped from sixth to eighth place, the last place to qualify for the WNBA playoffs, after Sunday’s 75-63 loss at the Golden State Valkyries.
Four games remain in the regular season.
Before 2025, Clark hadn’t been sidelined by an injury since high school, but the superstar’s second year in the WNBA has turned into an injury-ravaged campaign. She has played in just 13 of her team’s 40 games.
“This is the first time I haven’t felt like a young body that can run around and sprint,” Clark told Glamour. “Being a professional athlete, you really have to take care of both your body and your mind. It’s been a journey learning about that.”
Aerial Powers scored a season-high 17 points against Golden State off the bench for the injury-riddled Fever, who are without Sophie Cunningham (knee), Aari McDonald (foot) and Sydney Colson (knee) the rest of the season.
The Fever will conclude their three-game road trip with the game against the Mercury (25-14).
The teams split their first two meetings this season, with each team winning on its home floor.
The Mercury have already clinched a playoff spot, but are battling the Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty to secure a top-four seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Phoenix increased its winning streak to four games with Saturday’s 80-63 win over the visiting Liberty.
Satou Sabally leads the Mercury with 16.6 points per game, with Kahleah Copper next at 16.3.
Alyssa Thomas leads the WNBA with 9.2 assists per game. She is also averaging 15.8 points and 8.9 rebounds.
Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts said the difference in the win over the Liberty was center Natasha Mack’s eight points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.
“She just impacts winning with her effort on the glass,” he said. “She flies around. Her teammates love her.”
–Field Level Media
