Indiana Fever adjusting to new roster, playing without Clark

There has been good and bad news for the Indiana Fever to start the WNBA season.

The bad news? Star point guard Caitlin Clark is out with an injury.

The good news? Despite a roster full of new pieces, Indiana looks much improved in the early part of its season, especially compared to last year.

Remember how awful the Fever were at the beginning of the 2024 season? The team started 0-5 and won just two of its first 10 games.

This season, after an 83-77 road loss to the Washington Mystics on Wednesday, Indiana is 2-3 overall and ninth in the league standings.

It is not an ideal start, but it is not time to panic.

The Fever added veterans DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard and Sophie Cunningham over the offseason to a strong returning core. Those players, in addition to returnees Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull, will need to step up in Clark’s absence.

"It's a great opportunity for our team to find an identity,” said first-year Indiana head coach Stephanie White. “It's a great opportunity for our team to play in a different way.”

Bonner had a season-high 21 points Wednesday against the Mystics while Mitchell added 14 points. Howard (11 points), Boston (10 points) and Hull (nine points) were also productive.

Bonner’s 21 points helped her reach 7,500 points for her career. According to the Fever, she is the first player in WNBA history to reach 7,500 points, 3,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists.

Clark’s absence was certainly noticed Wednesday, however, especially on the offensive end. Indiana had nearly 50 points in transition through the first four games of the season.

Wednesday night? Zero.

When will Clark return?

Clark is expected to miss a minimum of two weeks with a left quadriceps strain, the Fever announced on Monday.

“Further updates will be provided, as available, following re-evaluation,” the team said in an official press release.

It is the first time Clark has missed a game since high school.

“I think it is a huge opportunity (for her),” White said. “As a player, you are only seeing things from one perspective. I think it will give Caitlin an opportunity to sit back and be on the sideline for a while. There are some things you can see that you may not have noticed in live action. We will want her to sit next to us coaches to hear some of the conversations and points of emphasis.”

In four games this season, Clark is averaging 19.0 points, 9.3 assists (league high) and 6.0 rebounds. She had a triple-double during the team's season-opener against the Chicago Sky on May 17, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the 93-58 home win. 

Up Next

Indiana hosts the Connecticut Sun (0-5) on Friday before hosting the Mystics on June 3.

The Fever-Mystics contest will be a Commissioner’s Cup game. The Commissioner’s Cup features a 36-game schedule from June 1-17. Every team will play one game against each of the other teams in its conference.

The team from each conference with the top record in Commissioner’s Cup games will compete for a $500,000 prize pool, according to the WNBA.

WNBA Standings

Minnesota Lynx 5-0, New York Liberty 4-0, Phoenix Mercury 4-1, Atlanta Dream 4-2, Seattle Storm 3-2, Washington Mystics 3-3, Golden State Valkyries 2-2, Las Vegas Aces 2-2, Indiana Fever 2-3, Los Angeles Sparks 2-4, Dallas Wings 1-4, Chicago Sky 0-4, Connecticut Sun 0-5.

WNBA All-Star Weekend

There are approximately 50 days remaining until WNBA All-Star Weekend, which will take place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 18-19.

This will be the first time that Indianapolis will host the league’s midseason event.

To purchase tickets, visit www.wnbaallstar2025.com.

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