When Alyssa Thomas walked off the court after Phoenix’s 85-79 victory over Indiana, she had more than just 23 points and nine rebounds on her mind. The Mercury star had just watched her team execute a defensive masterpiece against the Fever, limiting them to just eight free-throw attempts all game. That’s when Thomas delivered a message that cut straight to the heart of Indiana’s offensive identity.
Why Did Alyssa Thomas Call Out the Fever’s Free-Throw Strategy?
During the postgame interview following the victory against Indiana on September 2, Thomas made headlines with her pointed observation about the opposing team’s strategy. The Mercury forward took a subtle dig at the Indiana Fever by suggesting that Indiana depends heavily on getting to the free-throw line to generate their offense.
“We know everything they’re trying to run, so we form a game plan around that. We know they’re a team that likes to get to the free-throw line, and our goal is to limit second-chance opportunities,” said Thomas during the interview.
Thomas’s comments hold serious merit when you look at the numbers. The Indiana Fever, who currently sit at 21-20, have leaned on the scoring brilliance of Kelsey Mitchell (who’s averaging 20.5 PPG) and Aliyah Boston (who’s averaging 15.2 PPG) to generate their offense. Both players excel at driving into the paint and often force defenders into compromising positions, leading to fouls.
Kelsey Mitchell tonight 🔥
• 29 points
• 4 rebounds
• 4 assists
• 3 steals
• 5/9 3PM
• 34 minutes playedpic.twitter.com/z3aBsTgslV
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) September 3, 2025
The Fever averages 18.0 free-throw attempts per game as a team, highlighting how much they rely on earning points from the stripe. Offensively, Indiana ranks fourth in the league in points per game (84.5), with much of that production coming from their ability to create contact and convert under pressure.
How Did Phoenix Neutralize Indiana’s Main Weapon?
That strategy completely backfired against Phoenix on September 2. Indiana managed just 6-of-8 from the free-throw line the entire night because the Mercury’s disciplined defense neutralized their primary offensive weapon. Phoenix forced the Fever to beat them in half-court sets rather than allowing easy trips to the charity stripe.
The Mercury controlled the game from the opening tip. After the first quarter, Phoenix led by two points, but they seized control by halftime with a commanding 15-point advantage. Their momentum dipped slightly in the second half as the Fever mounted a comeback effort, scoring 40 points. However, the Fever was still defeated.
The @PhoenixMercury came up BIG, defeating the Indiana Fever, 85-79, to pick up their 5th-straight WIN!
👏 Alyssa Thomas: 23 PTS | 9 REB | 9 AST
👏 DeWanna Bonner: 19 PTS | 4 REB
👏 Satou Sabally: 13 PTS
👏 Kahleah Copper: 11 PTS | 3 REB
👏 Sami Whitcomb: 10 PTS | 2 3PM | 7 AST… pic.twitter.com/VCmpj6TYqx
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 3, 2025
Thomas’s performance was outstanding. She nearly missed a triple-double with 23 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. Her fiancé, DeWanna Bonner, added 19 points, giving Phoenix the balanced scoring attack that has fueled their remarkable turnaround season. Currently sitting with a 26-14 record, the Mercury have not only clinched their playoff berth but are riding high on a five-game winning streak.
The current winning streak has electrified Phoenix fans and caught the attention of team leadership. A few days before this victory, team owner Mat Ishbia publicly praised the team for its exceptional performance.
“Awesome seeing the Mercury continue to play well! Love watching this team play hard, compete for all 40 minutes, and do all the little things to win. That’s 5 out of 6 wins, and our home crowd was amazing as always!” wrote Ishbia on X.
Looking ahead, the Mercury will gear up to face the Washington Mystics next on September 4 at the CareFirst Arena. With their defensive blueprint proven effective against one of the league’s top offenses, Phoenix appears ready to continue its playoff push with confidence and momentum.
