The Phoenix Mercury returned to Indianapolis last night for the first of two games the team will play against the Indiana Fever, and things went about as well as one might imagine.
For those who need the reminder: tension between the Fever and Dewanna Bonner has existed since Bonner left the team midway through the 2025 season. No official explanation was offered, and Bonner made it clear she was only interested in playing for the Mercury alongside her wife, Alyssa Thomas. Games between the Fever and Mercury have been fraught with feelings that seem to have little to do with basketball ever since, and last night's was so no exception.
Bonner and Clark got tangled up during the fourth quarter, which prompted a big reaction from both players. Bonner shrugged Clark off, and the latter was hit with a technical foul that she didn't think she earned. Cunningham, who wasn't involved in the initial fouling, rushed over toward Bonner and began waving a finger at her. The pair began pointing at one another, and ultimately all three players received technical fouls.
The moment was a reminder to fans and the larger WNBA community that Cunningham is no stranger to jumping into on-court fracas, often presumably in defense of her teammates. Last season she pulled Jacy Sheldon to the floor after Clark was on the receiving end of physical and verbal spats from both Sheldon and then-teammate Marina Mabrey. She's also been an outspoken critic of referees last season and this year.
Myisha Hines-Allen was also ejected from the game afer she received her second technical foul of the night. Hines-Allen first got into a verbal altercation with Thomas and then a second verbal altercation with Bonner. After that back and forth, she shoved Thomas and was sent out of the game.
Despite the ups and downs, the Indiana Fever ended the night with a 86-77 win that included a steep climb back from a 16-point deficit in the third quarter. The Mercury attempted to rally in the fourth to hold on to their lead, but were unable to meet the Fever's push — something that may have contributed to the extra tension between the two teams. Clark led the Fever with 24 points and 9 assists, and the Fever currently boast an improved 10-7 record.
The Indiana Fever will host the Mercury for a second time on Wednesday, June 24.
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