With top player Caitlin Clark out with a bad lingering groin injury, Indiana Fever’s coach Stephanie White is up against a tough test: to keep her team in the game without their best player. Yet, instead of worry, White is facing this tough time with positivity and thinks it might even make the Fever stronger.
Clark missed her third game on Tuesday, sitting out the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final against the Minnesota Lynx. Even without her, the Fever pulled off a big win, beating the top Lynx 74-59. This win came with a strong show from old hand Natasha Howard, who got MVP with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists.
“Learning to play without Caitlin”
After the game, White talked about the good things in her team learning to win without Clark.
> “Learning to play without [Caitlin], learning to make big plays in tough moments on both ends of the floor is important because that’s gonna pay dividends down the stretch of the season for us,” White said.
The Fever have just won seven of their last 11 games, even with Clark popping in and out of games. Though the Commissioner’s Cup game does no’t add to the season scores, the win lifted the team’s mood as they had to adapt fast to this circumstance.
Clark’s influence in the game
Clark, averaging 18.2 points and 8.9 assists per game in her second WNBA season, has struggled with efficiency, only 39% from the field and 29.5% from three-point land. Yet, her time on the court changes how defenses play, giving her team more chances.
White and the Fever’s medical team chose to keep Clark out of the Cup final to stop her injury from aggravating, putting her future health before quick wins.
> “There is no sense in rushing anything,” White said this week. “The most important thing for us is the big picture.”
Clark might play again on Thursday, when the Fever meet the Las Vegas Aces.
The team steps up
With Clark out, Indiana has used a balanced offensive attack. Five players now score double digits on average, led by Kelsey Mitchell (18.9 PPG) and Natasha Howard (11.2 PPG).
The Fever’s defense also got tough against Minnesota, letting only 32 points in the second half after being down by 13 earlier.
White has spoken well of her team’s tough spirit and quick changes, noting that this time without their top guard might be very useful when playoffs come.
While the Fever would rather have Clark playing, White’s lead has kept the team sharp and in the fight. With the All-Star break near and playoff hopes still there, Indiana is showing they can win with or without their main star.
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