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 The Indiana Fever continue their pursuit of a WNBA playoff spot as they host the Phoenix Mercury on Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Fever haven't reached the postseason since 2016 when they were eliminated in the first round. This year, led by rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, Indiana (11-15) is currently in seventh place in the WNBA standings. They hold a slim half-game lead over the eighth-place Sky and are three games ahead of the ninth-place Dream. The top eight teams at the end of the regular season on September 19 will qualify for the playoffs. Meanwhile, Phoenix (14-12) is coming off an 85-65 victory over Chicago on Thursday.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Indiana is a 3-point favorite in the latest odds for the Fever vs. Mercury matchup, with the over/under set at 173.5 points. Before making any predictions, it's essential to hear from SportsLine's Calvin Wetzel.

Wetzel, HerHoopStats.com's lead betting writer, uses his mathematical expertise and deep knowledge of women's basketball to transform the site's prediction model into reliable picks. Alongside Aaron Barzilai, a Ph.D. from Stanford, Wetzel boasts an impressive record of 1,385-988 (+372.33 units) on women's college basketball picks since the start of the 2021-22 season. His recent success includes a 238-185-1 overall record for the 2023 season, yielding nearly a 7% return on investment. Those who follow his advice have seen substantial gains.

Now, Wetzel has thoroughly analyzed the Fever vs. Mercury game and has shared his picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine to see his selections. Here are the key details for the game:

- **Fever vs. Mercury spread:** Indiana -3

- **Fever vs. Mercury over/under:** 173.5 points

- **Fever vs. Mercury moneyline:** Indiana -165, Phoenix +140

- **IND:** Caitlin Clark leads the WNBA in assists per game (8.2)

- **PHO:** Kahleah Copper ranks second in the league in scoring (23.2 points per game)

### Why the Fever can cover

Indiana has significantly improved after a slow start to the season. The Fever went 1-8 in their first nine games but have since turned things around, going 10-7 in their last 17 games, including two wins over Phoenix. A key factor in their resurgence is Clark's exceptional play, as she has averaged 11.9 assists per game in her last nine regular-season games.

Additionally, Indiana will be the more rested team on Friday night. This will be their first game after the Olympic break, and they have only one Olympian, Australian Kristy Wallace, who isn't a core player. In contrast, the Mercury will be playing the second game of a back-to-back after their Thursday night matchup in Chicago.

### Why the Mercury can cover

Phoenix boasts one of the league's top scorers in Kahleah Copper. The four-time WNBA All-Star and former Finals MVP ranks second in the league in scoring, averaging 23.2 points per game. Copper's clutch performance in the gold medal game against France, where she scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, highlights her scoring prowess.

Additionally, Brittney Griner remains one of the WNBA's best bigs. The 6-foot-9 center averages 18.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game this season while shooting 55.8% from the field. Griner also contributed to Team USA's gold medal victory at the Paris Olympics.

For complete picks and analysis, visit SportsLine.