Up until this season, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark had played in every in-season game since her high school career.
Her presence on the court was vital in the playmaking and scoring, making her the household name she is today. Her streak broke this season after she faced multiple injuries to her quad and groin, restricting her to just 13 games on the court. There were fears that her absence would rid the Fever of playoff hopes.
But Kelsey Mitchell, Aaliyah Boston, and the newly signed Aari McDonald proved otherwise.
Fever Trying to Stay Hot
After Sunday’s win against the Seattle Storm, the Indiana Fever continued their five-game winning streak, the longest the franchise has had.
Clark was not in uniform for any of those, reminding us that she isn’t the end-all, be-all for the Fever. Guard Sophie Cunningham, one of the new players acquired in the off-season, drains the triples while center Aaliyah Boston is in the top five for assists per game out of all the bigs. Forward Natasha Howard proves her value in the paint, while Aari McDonald makes clutch shots to secure the win.
Fever Head Coach Stephanie White credits their wins to the team’s depth, saying how “Relying on one another in certain moments, it doesn’t have to be anything spectacular from a stat sheet standpoint… helping get a big defensive stop or coming in and getting a good rebound” are what secures the wins. It’s not a specific player, but specific plays that keep the team on top.
Holding Out
Clark’s return after her first groin injury in a home game against the Liberty conveyed her undeniable value with 32 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds.
But the next two games resulted in unexpected losses against the Los Angeles Sparks and Golden State Valkyries, both of which were below the Fever in the current rankings. After a frustrating game against the Connecticut Sun, where she seemed to have reactivated her groin injury, it was clear Clark wasn’t 100%, and the Fever had to adjust once again.
If the Fever want to maintain their playoff hopes, Clark must be 100% upon return and able to give 30-point performances like she did against the Liberty. With the Fever staying within the top eight the past few weeks and the strong performances from the team, they’re close to clinching that spot.
While the team’s success this season can still be partly attributed to Clark, it will be the rest of the team that deserves their flowers for staying consistent and building a team where Clark’s presence doesn’t stop them from winning.
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