Caitlin Clark has not been able to step back on the court with the Indiana Fever due to an injury, but the basketball superstar has been able to help the franchise in other ways.
The Fever beat the Seattle Storm 78-74 Sunday afternoon behind three time champion and former Defensive Player of the Year Natasha Howard, who scored 21 points with five assists and five rebounds.
Guard Sophie Cunningham added 17 points with two assists and five rebounds to extend their win streak to five games, winning a match that had significant implications on the WNBA playoff race, as Indiana gets ready to make a deep playoff run.
Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston hype up teammates
Caitlin Clark may be sidelined, but her energy remains a driving force for the Indiana Fever. Before their matchup against the Seattle Storm, Clark shared an emotional embrace with teammate Aliyah Boston, hyping up the team as they prepared to hit the court.
Clark has missed seven straight games due to a right groin injury sustained during a win over the Connecticut Sun on July 15. Even without an official return date, she’s stayed close to her teammates, providing encouragement and leadership from the bench.
The Fever entered the game against the Seattle Storm on a four-game win streak and tied for fifth in the WNBA standings. Their Sunday victory secured them the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Storm, and it also pushed Indiana closer to a stronger playoff position as the season heats up.
Indiana has some catching up to do
The Indiana Fever is on a hot streak, and the franchise where Caitlin Clark plays is eager to put the pieces together in order to become a WNBA contender. However, they do have some catching up todo, especially with the way teams like the Minnesota Lynx is playing right now.
The team lead by star forward Napheesa Collier (23.5 points per game with 1.6 blocks and 1.8 steals) is playing the best ball in the league, just ahead of the New York Liberty, lead by guard Sabrina Ionescu (20.4 points per game and 66 three pointers made this season).
The two teams have owned the top of the standings all season, but Minnesota taking over as the favorite is a new shift. The Lynx is now 23-5, riding the league’s best record with a five-game cushion over the Liberty. New York‘s gone 6-4 in their last ten, but Minnesota? They lead the league in offensive rating (109.1) and defensive rating (95.9).
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