Everyone’s been wondering constantly since the Sparks vs. Fever game ended. How did Fever manage to blow up a late-quarter double-digit lead against a team that’s 5-11? The concerns become just more grave when you realise that Fever has had double-digit leads in all their last four games. Their record in this stretch? A sad 1-3. Naturally, everyone directed their fury at Stephanie White, questioning her small-ball lineup. But just ask White, and she has something else to point at.
It all unfolded just before Indiana’s game against the LA Sparks, when Clark was ruled out for what would be the sixth missed game of her rookie season – this time due to a left groin injury. Although the specifics haven’t been disclosed, the team confirmed that Clark underwent an MRI following the matchup against Seattle, which revealed the issue. “I think it’s very much a day-to-day thing, how she responds to treatment,” head coach Stephanie White told reporters.
Simply put, the Fever had to face Kelsey Plum and company without their star guard, and once again, it ended in disappointment. The Sparks rallied for an 85–75 victory over the short-handed Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana seemed to be in control, building a lead as big as 10 in the second half and stepping into the fourth quarter with a solid 58-50 cushion. With just under six minutes to go, Aliyah Boston knocked down a pair of free throws to stretch the lead to seven, and then the wheels came off. The Fever managed just nine points the rest of the way, while their opponents went on a 26-point spree that flipped the game on its head. Indiana was just free-falling.
So, what exactly went wrong? Well, HC Stephanie White had an answer, and it wasn’t sugar-coated. When asked about the team’s latest fourth-quarter collapse, White sent a scathing message about her team’s mentality.
“I mean, I think that we haven’t shown a killer instinct yet,” White said during post-game press conference “We have had a tendency to relax in those moments instead of… go for the kill. We’ve had empty possessions where we’ve been too lax with the basketball. We’ve had breakdowns on the defensive end of the floor. It’s just moments of mental lapses or mental relaxation that you can’t have in this league.”
May 22, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White on the sideline against the Atlanta Dream in the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Well, everything she said was true. Well, everything she said was true. In their last four games, the Fever have been outscored 106-78 in the fourth quarter. Well, that’s a -28 point differential, one of the worst in the entire league. And just consider that Sparks was supposed to be worse than the Fever in second-half stumbles. However, today, it was the Sparks that won the mental battle.
The game’s turning point came in the final minute, and it was as dramatic as it gets. With the Sparks clinging to a 77–75 lead, Dearica Hamby got fouled while scoring on a put-back. She missed the free throw, but Azurá Stevens wasn’t about to let the moment slide. She wrestled the rebound with a killer instinct, put it back in, drew a foul, and sank the freebie. Just like that, the Sparks turned one possession into a five-point swing and an 82-75 cushion with 49 seconds left.
And then there was Kelsey Plum. After hitting the snooze button for most of the first half, she flipped the switch in the fourth. In a 71-second stretch that could not have afforded any lax, she dropped seven straight points to put L.A. on top, 69–66, reminding everyone why she’s fourth in the league in scoring. So, it was empty possessions, mental lapses, and defensive breakdowns that showed as the Fever allowed 50% shooting overall and 42 points in the paint.
So, if you thought it was just CC’s absence, think again. Caitlin is very important, and her absence affects the team. But more than that, they need to find a way to be cohesive in her absence, and they will be able to come through.
But, Fever can still survive without Caitlin Clark!
No doubt, the Fever have lost not just their top scorer and playmaker, but also the one player who had the ability to keep their offense functioning as a unit. And that was evident in their recent performance, as the team struggled to consistently get the ball to Aliyah Boston. Just think about it, Boston was coming off a career-high 31-point game and currently leads the WNBA with a stellar 62% field goal percentage. Yet, in this matchup, she was left battling for position and calling for the ball.
What else could you expect? She finished the game shooting just 4-of-13 and managed to contribute only 12 points to the team’s total. What could have been a major advantage for the Fever in the final quarter instead turned into a directionless offense during crunch time.
And when Kelsey Mitchell isn’t lighting it up from deep, which hasn’t happened consistently when Clark is out, Indiana’s offense loses its identity. No amount of hustle plays, points, or rebounds from the likes of Aari McDonald, Lexie Hull, and Sophie Cunningham is enough to overcome a broken half-court system. Until the Fever learns how to function without Caitlin Clark steering the offense, that 7-8 record isn’t going anywhere fast. So yeah, if you’re wondering how they can turn things around – it starts with finding a plan B that actually runs.
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