In a thrilling matchup on Tuesday, Caitlin Clark showcased her skills as the Indiana Fever secured an 85-77 victory over the Connecticut Sun. Despite a slow start, Clark finished strong but was forced to sit out the game's final seconds due to discomfort from a lingering groin injury. With just 39.6 seconds left in the game and the Fever leading 84-77, Clark exited the court, raising concerns about her health as she is set to participate in the upcoming All-Star weekend.
Following the game, Fever head coach Stephanie White informed reporters that Clark experienced a minor issue with her groin. She will undergo further evaluation to determine the extent of the injury. As the All-Star weekend approaches in Indianapolis, where Clark is slated to compete in the 3-point contest and captain her All-Star team, her participation remains uncertain. The 3-point contest is scheduled for Friday, followed by the All-Star Game on Saturday.
During the game, Clark faced a challenging defensive setup from the Sun, especially in her fourth game back after a five-game absence due to her groin injury. She struggled to find her rhythm, missing her first five field goals of the second half and not scoring until a jumper midway through the fourth quarter. This included a tough night beyond the arc, where she missed her initial five 3-point attempts before finally sinking a deep shot to extend Indiana's lead to 80-71.
Despite her shooting woes, Clark managed to score nine consecutive points late in the game, helping to secure the victory for the Fever. She concluded the game with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and a game-high 7 assists, although she also recorded five turnovers. This marked her fourth consecutive game since returning from injury where she shot 33.3% or worse from the field.
While Clark struggled, fellow Fever All-Star Aliyah Boston also faced challenges, contributing only 11 points on 2 of 6 shooting, with her first basket coming in the third quarter. However, teammates Natasha Howard and Kelsey Mitchell stepped up, contributing 18 and 20 points, respectively, to help the Fever secure the win in front of a packed house at TD Garden, home of the Boston Celtics.
The matchup between the Fever and Sun contrasted sharply with their previous encounter on June 17, which was marred by multiple scuffles and three ejections following a hard foul by Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham on Connecticut's Jacy Sheldon. That incident escalated tensions, but Tuesday night’s game remained drama-free, shifting the focus to Clark’s health and performance.
With the win, the Fever improved their record to 12-10, positioning them fifth in the league, just three games behind the first-place New York Liberty in the Eastern Conference. They are set to face the Liberty again on Wednesday, their final game before the All-Star break. However, it appears that they may have to proceed without Clark, depending on the results of her evaluation.
