The Caitlin Clark vs. Diana Taurasi game lived up to expectations, but it was the rookie who won the duel.
Clark said before the game that playing against Taurasi is "almost like a dream come true."
The Fever clawed their way back into the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Mercury 29-15. Clark's passing was a big reason for the team's success despite her 4-of-14 shooting.
Aliyah Boston scored 17 and Kelsey Mitchell had 16 points, including a couple of clutch buckets late in the fourth. Brittney Griner led all scorers with 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting.
The Fever improve to 8-12 on the season while the Mercury fall to 9-9.
The Sporting News tracked live updates, highlights, and stats from Clark's first matchup with Taurasi.
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All times Eastern.
5:28 p.m.: Taurasi misses her 3-point shot and Wallace splits her free throws. Fever win 88-82 as Clark just barely misses out on becoming the first WNBA rookie to record a triple-double.
5:25 p.m.: Oh no, Griner dribbles the ball off Cloud's foot and turns it over. Mitchell is going to the free throw line with 12.9 seconds. She makes both as Fever lead 87-82.
5:23 p.m.: Clark hits both free throws to make it an 85-82 game. Mercury calls timeout with 19.9 seconds remaining.
5:21 p.m.: Fever get a stop but haven't gotten the ball past half court yet. Indiana calls a second timeout to reset the ball and advance it.
5:20 p.m.: Mitchell hits another elbow jumper to give the Fever the lead.
Kelsey Mitchell for the lead with 35 seconds left in Q4 ???? pic.twitter.com/KEuLu04SSj
5:17 p.m.: Samuelson misses an open 3-pointer at the shot clock buzzer. Smith grabs an offensive rebound, but Taurasi rips it from her and draws a foul. She puts the Mercury up 82-81 with 41.5 seconds left.
5:16 p.m.: Back to the line for the Mercury. Griner draws a foul as soon as she catches it in the post. She splits her pair of foul shots. Game is tied 81-81.
5:15 p.m.: And-1! Mitchell nails the jumper as she's fouled. She converts the free throw as the Fever retake the lead at 81-80 with 1:22 remaining.
and-1 ????Kelsey Mitchell with the elbow jumper and the call ???? pic.twitter.com/LqH55eXVOz
5:13 p.m.: Clark splits her free throws and ties the game at 78-78 with 1:49 to play.
5:11 p.m.: Cloud picks up a flagrant foul, which gives the Fever a chance to tie the game with 2:17 remaining. Samuelson makes both free throws and gets possession after.
5:07 p.m.: Phoenix is on an 8-0 run in the last 3:30. Mercury lead 76-69 with under four minutes to play.
5:03 p.m.: Griner and-1 on the post hook. Mercury are attempting to pull away late in this one.
4:59 p.m.: Cunningham nails a 3-pointer to give the Mercury a 71-69 lead with 5:55 remaining.
4:58 p.m.: Boston picks up her fifth foul with 6:43 remaining in the game. Fever lead 69-68.
4:53 p.m.: Mercury take the lead with a 4-0 to start the fourth quarter.
4:43 p.m.: The Fever nearly had a perfect quarter, but the Mercury have been clawing back in the final two minutes. What was once a 10-point lead is now just three.
4:39 p.m.: Wow, the Fever can't miss right now. Smith knocks down a corner triple to increase the lead to 63-55.
4:38 p.m.: Griner is back in the game after a big Fever run with her off the court.
4:36 p.m.: Big 3-pointer from Mitchell as the Fever take their first lead of the day. She follows it up with another 3-ball as Indiana leads 60-55 with three minutes to play in the third.
4:31 p.m.: Clark hits a logo 3-pointer and then finds Wallace on the backdoor cut as the Fever trail 55-50 with 5:27 remaining in the third quarter.
Yet another logo 3 from Caitlin ClarkDIFFERENT#WNBA pic.twitter.com/CSLXxd2bFP
4:30 p.m.: Griner is holding her knee on the bench after taking an awkward fall.
4:29 p.m.: Lead is down to single digits after Mitchell nails a 3-pointer. Mercury lead 53-45 with six minutes to play in the third quarter.
Kelsey Mitchell launches and cashes in on a three ???? pic.twitter.com/bUvByCmSYz
4:27 p.m.: That Clark-Boston pick and roll is fluid, but it was Smith who came soaring in for an offensive rebound to salvage the miss.
4:05 p.m.: Smith picks up a flagrant foul on Taurasi. Lot of reviews and stoppages here in the first half.
4:02 p.m.: Phoenix has retaken a larger lead at 47-38 with a minute remaining in the half.
4 p.m.: Clark can't get an inch of room with Copper guarding on ball. It's been tough for the rookie as she has five turnovers so far.
3:48 p.m.: Clark has already set a franchise rookie record for assists with 129. It's been just 20 games.
another record for the resume ????congratulations to Caitlin Clark for breaking the rookie franchise record for assists in a single season in just 20 games ???????? pic.twitter.com/MDSaYAyHgT
3:46 p.m.: Another scuffle on the court, this one as teams were huddling right next to each other during a dead ball. The teams picked up two technical fouls each, which offset — no free throws.
3:40 p.m.: And-1! Clark converts the three-point play to cut the lead to 31-30 midway through the second quarter.
Caitlin Clark finishes through contact and gets the whistle ???? pic.twitter.com/pVDAg4tavF
3:38 p.m.: Here's a look at some of the defenses that Clark has faced during today's game. Lots of pressure in the full and half court.
Caitlin Clark is facing full court pressure from Kahleah Copper and then it's Rebecca Allen switching on to her. And then it's Natasha Cloud taking the matchup and switching and helping. And then it's Brittney Griner at the level in P&R. pic.twitter.com/8Dswj8q7D2
3:36 p.m.: Woah, it's a bit chippy here as Griner pushed Boston during a dead ball. Griner picks up a technical foul as a result.
Britney Griner SHOVES off Aaliyah Boston: pic.twitter.com/htJlUjKPbg
3:34 p.m.: The Fever are starting to figure it out a bit more after a tough start to the game. They trail 31-26 early in the second quarter.
3:24 p.m.: Clark has been finding Boston much more often in the past few games, and it's showing in the latter half of the first quarter.
3:22 p.m.: Oh no, Clark just crossed Allen bad but airballed the 3-point shot. Nearly a crazy highlight play.
3:18 p.m.: There it is. Clark knocks down a deep triple and finds Boston in transition the next possession. That's a 7-0 run for the Fever as they trail 17-11.
LOGO CLARK ????Caitlin Clark knocks down a deep try ball???? ESPN pic.twitter.com/Vag6WMeQ5N
3:17 p.m.: Taurasi is playing in her 20th WNBA season this year and has played more total games than the entire Indiana starting lineup.
Diana Taurasi has played more games than the entire Fever starting roster combined ????Career games played (via ESPN):Indiana’s starting lineup: 461Diana Taurasi: 547
3:16 p.m.: Yikes, Clark picks up an offensive foul, which is her second personal of the game.
This was called an offensive foul on Caitlin Clark#WNBA pic.twitter.com/nBPth6nMLk
3:11 p.m.: Clark is struggling with Copper guarding her. The rookie is 0-for-2 with two turnovers and one foul. She can't get any wiggle room with or without the ball. Mercury lead 14-2 just four minutes into the game.
3:08 p.m.: Taurasi scores first in the veteran-rookie matchup. Mercury lead 8-0.
3:06 p.m.: Copper is guarding Clark to start the game. She gets a quick stop into a transition 3-pointer.
3:05 p.m.: Griner draws a foul on Boston immediately and splits the free throws.
2:57 p.m.: Clark said earlier that her game against Taurasi is "almost like a dream come true." It's almost time for that dream to start.
2:44 p.m.: Phoenix is ready for a big crowd in the first Taurasi vs. Clark game.
The stage is set.17,000 rally towels ready to be waved! pic.twitter.com/NYIEpyujHg
2:09 p.m.: Just an hour before tip-off in Phoenix as Diana Taurasi and Caitlin Clark meet for the first time in the WNBA.
