Caitlin Clark’s Shocking Reaction to Brittney Griner and Rickea Jackson Fight: Both Ejected in Intense Mercury vs Sparks Clash
Phoenix triumphs over Sparks in heated matchup. The Phoenix Mercury pulled off an intense 85-81 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night in a game packed with drama, ejections, and some big-time performances.
The night took a wild turn just before halftime when Phoenix star Britney Griner and the Sparks’ rookie standout Ria Jackson got into a shoving match while battling for a rebound. The tension was high, and after both exchanged shoves, the referees ejected them from the game. This happened right after Le Taylor hit a free throw that cut LA’s lead to 43-36.
As emotions flared, other players stepped in, leading to technical fouls for LA’s Crystal Dangerfield and Phoenix’s Sophie Cunningham. Despite being down by eight points at halftime, Phoenix came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring the Sparks 28-10.
Diana Taurasi’s three-pointer tied the game at 46, and from there, Phoenix took control. Taurasi also nailed a free throw that kicked off a personal run of five straight points, giving Phoenix a 53-48 lead they wouldn’t give up. Sophie Cunningham had a great night too, dropping 14 points, while Taurasi finished with 13, and Michaela Herbert Harrigan added 10.
The Mercury’s defense was sharp, turning the Sparks’ 20 turnovers into 31 points, which helped them overcome LA’s massive 49-25 rebounding advantage. For the Sparks, DiJonai Carrington led with 21 points, and Zia Cooke scored a career-high 19 points along with 12 rebounds. Kiana Nurse also chipped in 10 points.
Even though LA made a strong push late in the game, scoring 10 straight points to cut the lead to five, Phoenix held firm. Cunningham’s clutch three-pointer extended the lead back to 13 with just over 3 minutes to go. Carrington hit a three to make it 79-74 with 2 minutes left, but Herbert Harrigan’s key basket sealed the deal for Phoenix.
The first quarter was a close battle, ending in a 24-24 tie, but LA pulled ahead by halftime with a 44-36 lead. However, Phoenix’s dominant second-half performance helped them secure this vital win as they prepare for a playoff showdown against second-seeded Minnesota on Sunday.
Caitlin Clark has also reacted to the situation. Underneath an Instagram post, she commented, “What the heck do you guys think about the situation?
