In 2010 the Indiana Fever blew out the Phoenix Mercury in both of their meetings. This year the series between the 2009 WNBA Finalists seems to have returned to previous form. Both teams fought hard and both teams overcame deficits at some point in the game. It went down to the wire with under a minute left and the score tied and stayed that way when the final buzzer sounded on regulation sending the Mercury into their first overtime of the season. The Mercury were able to get the key stops and rebounds needed to win their first game of the season, 93-89
In the final minute of regulation, neither team was able to score on their final possessions and the game came down to a steal by Mercury point guard Temeka Johnson. Johnson was fouled immediately and broke the tie with two free throws to give Phoenix a 82-80 lead with 9.5 seconds to play. Indiana was then once again able to find Jessica Davenport in the post were she took advantage of her mismatch with Candice Dupree and scored a layup to tie the game with 1.9 seconds to play. The Mercury ran a quick play to hit DeWanna Bonner cutting to the basket but her jersey was held out of sight of the officials.
The Fever jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in overtime but Diana Taurasi put her head down and got to the line for two points. After an exchange of turnovers, Taurasi was fouled shooting behind the arc and tied the game again with her three free throws. Briann January and Marie Ferdinand-Harris exchanged baskets and the game was once again tied (89-89, 36 seconds) after Candice Dupree had her shot blocked by Tammy Sutton-Brown. The Mercury got a steal and Taurasi got the the line again for two more to give Phoenix a two-point lead.
On their final possession, Catchings got free but missed a layup that would have tied the game. The Mercury rebounded the ball and were intentionally fouled to put the game out of reach with 8.5 seconds to go.
Candice Dupree led the Mercury comeback with her furious energy on the glass in the second half. She finished with 21 points and 18 rebounds (13 in the second half). Diana Taurasi finished with 32 points on 10-23 shooting which included seven points in overtime, all from the line.
Jessica Davenport led the Fever with 20 points off the bench. Katie Douglas went down in the first quarter with a lower back injury and didn't return.
More to follow.