The Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever has momentum on their side. It’s one of the key reasons the team isn’t sweating over or rushing the return of their superstar guard.
The Fever picked up where they left off after winning the Commissioner’s Cup earlier this week. They hosted the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday and torched A’ja Wilson and her team 81-54, making it one of their most dominant wins this season. That they did so without Clark made the victory even more impressive, as their lockdown defense stifled the Aces completely.
Up next, they host the struggling Los Angeles Sparks as part of their remaining four-game homestand, hoping to make it three straight wins. The timing couldn’t be better for Indiana to build confidence without their star player.
Clark Ruled Out of Saturday’s Matchup vs. Sparks
In what comes as a tough blow for the Fever, Caitlin Clark will miss her fifth straight game of the season as she continues to recover from her left groin strain. While she has been practicing with the team, head coach Stephanie White made it clear that the team was not looking to rush her back into action.
Per CBS Sports, “My goal has always been the same: I don’t want this to be something that lingers, that we come back too soon,” White said. “We want to make sure that she is 100% ready to go and that we put her long-term health and wellness at the forefront.”
The cautious approach makes sense given Clark’s importance to the franchise. The Fever can’t afford to have their franchise player dealing with recurring injuries, especially with playoff positioning on the line.
CAITLIN CLARK TODAY 🔥
• 32 POINTS
• 9 ASSISTS
• 8 REBOUNDS
• 2 BLOCKS
• 7 THREES
• 11/20 FG
• 31 MINUTES PLAYED pic.twitter.com/2wxVyOKoPa— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) June 14, 2025
Clark last played on June 24, ending her evening with a forgettable six-point outing in the team’s win over the Seattle Storm. An awkward fall in the final seconds of the game resulted in the Fever announcing that she would miss the next game against Los Angeles. She also missed out on the much-awaited matchup against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings, which had fans buzzing about the rookie-versus-sophomore showdown.
The groin injury is the second setback for the sophomore guard this season. She missed game time at the start of the season with a left quad strain, sitting out three weeks of action. She has now missed nine regular-season games, not including the Commissioner’s Cup Final against the Minnesota Lynx.
The former Iowa superstar had a solid start to her season, averaging 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.9 assists. Those numbers put her in the conversation for All-Star consideration, making her extended absence all the more noticeable. Now, the Fever will hope that she will be ready for the team’s next clash against the Golden State Valkyries.
Predicted Lineups and What to Expect
Without Clark running the show, the Fever will lean heavily on their supporting cast to keep the momentum going. The team has shown they can compete at a high level even without their star, but consistency will be key.
Indiana Fever Predicted Lineups
- Lexi Hull
- Natasha Howard
- Aliyah Boston
- Kelsey Mitchell
- Aari McDonald
Los Angeles Sparks Predicted Lineups
- Rickea Jackson
- Dearica Hamby
- Azura Stevens
- Kelsey Plum
- Julie Allemand
The Sparks are enduring another rough season and come into the contest on the back of two consecutive losses. They sit near the bottom with just five wins in 18 games, making them a perfect opponent for Indiana to build confidence. Injuries to their star players early on and inconsistencies on both ends of the floor derailed LA’s campaign from the start.
For the Fever, Kelsey Mitchell will need to step up as the primary scorer, while Aliyah Boston continues to anchor the paint. The team’s depth has been tested, but they’ve responded well so far. They’ll look to continue their strong showing as they wait for Clark to make her way back from injury. The question is whether they can maintain this level of play once their star returns and the team chemistry needs to readjust.