The Indiana Fever suffered a tough 85-75 defeat at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday night, taking a hit in their season pursuit without their star point guard Caitlin Clark.
Trailing by just three points entering the fourth quarter, Indiana was overwhelmed 35-17 in the final frame by the Los Angeles Sparks, snapping momentum and exposing a vulnerability without Clark‘s dynamic presence.
Clark, nursing a left-groin injury, was sidelined as a precautionary measure, leaving the Fever without their floor general and leading scorer. The absence was immediately felt.
Azura Stevens emerged as the Sparks‘ dominating force, delivering 23 points and snagging seven rebounds, while former Fever standout Kelsey Mitchell tallied 20 points.
Their combined output proved too much for a weakened Indiana squad.
With this victory, the Sparks climbed to 5-11 on the season, dealing the Fever a 7-8 mark and stalling their push toward playoff contention.
Fourth-quarter collapse seals indiana’s fate
The contest remained competitive until the penultimate quarter, when Los Angeles seized control. Indiana’s offense stagnated, and without Clark‘s direction, they struggled for identity.
The Sparks capitalized on defensive breakdowns and transitioned efficiently, turning a tight game into a blowout.
The Fever had shown resilience throughout the season, even tough road tests, but Clark‘s absence laid bare their dependence on her court vision, scoring flair, and metro-market energy.
Notably, Clark had been averaging 18.2 points and 8.9 assists per game prior to the injury.
Broader context and missing pieces
Indiana‘s injury woes have been a recurring issue. Earlier this season, Clark missed five games with a quad strain before returning with a spectacular 32-point performance against the New York Liberty.
Although initial MRI scans did not reveal a serious groin strain, the team opted for caution ahead of a back-to-back schedule that includes Friday’s road contest against the Dallas Wings.
Roster depth is being tested: aside from Clark, the Fever have already dealt with injuries to Sophie Cunningham and were forced to bring back guard Aari McDonald stabilize their rotation. Sydney Colson, who previously covered for Clark during her quad injury, is now back to cover for Clark as part of the starting five.
Damiris Dantas is temporarily “suspended” from June 28 through July 8 due to her obligations with the Brazilian National Team at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup.
McDonald will be thrust back into the spotlight, as coach Stephanie White looks to regroup her squad without its emotional and statistical anchor.
Despite setbacks, Indiana’s recent season context offers some optimism. The acquisition of Clark has revitalized both attendance and league-wide interest, encapsulating what analysts have dubbed the “Caitlin Clark effect”, fan engagement, ratings, and ticket sales have soared since her debut.
The Fever reached 17,000-plus in average home attendance last year and even surpassed the Pacers in per-game crowd size.
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