INDIANAPOLIS– INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark seemed revitalized after taking a month off because of the WNBA’s Olympic break.

The three members of the Phoenix Mercury U.S. Olympic team could not keep up with her on Friday night.

Clark scored 13 of her 29 points in the first quarter, added 10 assists and four 3-pointers, and helped the Indiana Fever fend off Phoenix’s furious second-half comeback and restart the season with a decisive 98-89 victory.

“You knew they were going to come here with a lot of confidence, with three guys who have won gold medals,” said Clark, who was not on the Olympic squad. “You know their confidence is really high, and I think we came out and really set the tone.”

And it wasn’t just Clark who scored her 10th double-double of the season.

Kelsey Mitchell made six 3-pointers and finished with 28 points and Aliyah Boston surpassed Brittney Griner, He finished with 14 points and nine rebounds to win the three-game season series and further fuel the budding rivalry between Clark and three-time WNBA champion Diana Taurasi.

The taunts began in April, when Taurasi predicted that Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, would have a rude awakening in her first pro season. Phoenix stoked the fire again this week with a Twitter video in which a young fan asked, “Who’s Caitlin? I’m here for Taurasi.” And then brief scuffles broke out twice during the game.

But whether it was Indiana (12-15), motivated by the chance to play against three Olympians and a chance to win their first win of the season against a team since 2020, or the Mercury, struggling with the fatigue of the Paris Games and two away games in two days, Taurasi and her teammates were certainly not themselves at the start.

This proved costly as the Mercury (14-13) fell behind 48-20 midway through the second quarter.

“I think you can see it in their faces, you know, they’re tired,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said. “There will be better days for sure. We just have to understand that these games are going to come quickly here, but I know all three of them are ready to sleep in their own beds.”

While Olympic champion Kahleah Copper finished with 32 points and eight rebounds, the other two Phoenix players Taurasi and Griner only scored 12 points in the first half. Taurasi scored 16 points, Griner had 10 points and four rebounds and struggled with foul trouble.

Still, the exhausted trio found a way to mount a comeback. Phoenix cut the halftime deficit to 54-37 and opened the second half with a 25-7 run to take a 62-61 lead late in the third quarter.

After Clark’s return, the Fever rallied to take a 73-65 lead thanks to Mitchell’s skillful shooting and a three-pointer by Katie Lou Samuelson at the final whistle. The Fever never trailed again in front of a sold-out stadium.

“Yeah, it was pretty fun. I think we started with a lot of energy,” Clark said with a smile when asked about the fast start. “I think there were moments where we could have crumbled, but we just kept fighting and wrestling and I think it was really good for us.”

Former Fever star and Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings addressed the crowd during a first-quarter timeout to celebrate the city’s selection to host next season’s All-Star Game. Catchings will be one of five co-chairs of the local organizing committee.

The league announced Indiana’s selection on Wednesday. The game will be played on July 19. Phoenix hosted All-Star weekend this year. Indiana hosted the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.

Before the game began, the Fever paid tribute to the late Jim Morris, former vice president of Pacers Sports and Entertainment and a major figure in the Fever franchise. He died in mid-July. After a video unveiled, the Fever Morris’ banner in the attic.

He is the ninth player, coach or executive to receive the honor and the first to be honored for both the Fever and Pacers franchises.

Mercury: Hosts the Chicago Sky on Sunday.

Fever: Host the Seattle Storm on Sunday.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball