Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark is one of the most popular faces in the league. After all, she has delivered spectacular performances ever since she stepped into the pros. While her career trajectory hasn’t always been smooth, this season has seen the sophomore athlete struggle more than usual.
She was sidelined for more than two weeks due to a left quad injury. And just days after her 32-point comeback against the New York Liberty brought some much-needed relief to the Fever’s roster, Clark was benched again – this time due to a left groin injury. While she has already missed four games because of it, let’s take a look at whether she’ll suit up against the Los Angeles Sparks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse or stay off the court.
Injury Report: Indiana Fever vs LA Sparks
The head coach of the Indiana Fever, Stephanie White, provided an update surrounding Caitlin Clark’s playing status during Friday’s practice. “We went through semi-live shooting drills,” White said in the video. “She hasn’t gone full speed in a practice or in a live defensive group but she’s been getting some 3-on-3s on her own.” Having said that, Tony East had previously shared a clip where Clark is seen making consecutive shots from beyond the arc.
The latest on Clark’s health status from Stephanie White: https://t.co/edmT483kzI pic.twitter.com/1cuVhmWKUO
— Tony East (@TonyREast) July 4, 2025
Moreover, White contemplated Clark’s earlier statement regarding the minutes’ restriction. “So, I think the biggest thing is, she stated that she’s not a fan of the minutes restriction. If there’s going to be a minutes restriction, maybe we’ll hold her another game. But its’ evaluating her again in the morning, seeing what she’s done with or how many days there have been of more loading and make a decision from there,” White added.
Well, the decision has come now, and while Clark did join her teammates in practice, she will stay benched. This marks her ninth missed regular-season game, and tenth overall if you count the Commissioner’s Cup final. Earlier this season, she missed five games with a left quad strain, then made a brief five-game comeback before the groin one. Up until this year, Clark had a near-perfect attendance record through college and the pros. But now? She’s officially listed as OUT, with an estimated return date of July 9th.
On the other hand, the Sparks boast of a healthier roster and are ready to battle it out against the Fever. Cameron Brink stays out with an estimated return date of July 10th.
Projected Starters: Indiana Fever vs LA Sparks
Indiana Fever (9-8)
Guard – Aari McDonald
Guard – Kelsey Mitchell
Forward – Lexie Hull
Forward – Natasha Howard
Center – Aliyah Boston
Los Angeles Sparks (5-13)
Guard – Julie Allemand
Guard – Kelsey Plum
Forward – Rickea Jackson
Forward – Azura Stevens
Center – Dearica Hamby
Match Prediction: Indiana Fever vs LA Sparks
Everyone knows that the Indiana Fever are on a tear, and that, too, without their anchor Caitlin Clark. They’ll be looking to keep the fire burning when the struggling Los Angeles Sparks roll into Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday. It’s game two of a five-game regular-season home series for Indiana, and the momentum is definitely on their side. Fresh off a hat trick of wins (their first-ever this season), including a Commissioner’s Cup championship victory in Minnesota, the Fever have been absolutely cooking. They held the league-leading Lynx to just 39 points over the final three quarters. Then, just to prove it wasn’t a fluke, they gave the Las Vegas Aces a hard time again, holding them to 26.2% shooting in an 81-54 defeat.
Meanwhile, the Sparks are… well, sparking out. They’ve dropped six of their last seven games and haven’t managed to win two in a row all season. So yes, the Fever are heavy favorites – and rightfully so.
Spread Pick: Fever -6.5 at -120 (BetMGM).
While Clark’s been recovering, the rest of Indiana’s roster has stepped up in style. Kelsey Mitchell has been on a scoring bender, dropping an average of 23 points across the three victories. All-Star center Aliyah Boston has been her usual dominant self, averaging 17.7 points and 8 rebounds, while veteran Natasha Howard is out here stacking double-doubles.
Now, before you write off the Sparks entirely, remember that, offensively, Los Angeles has some bright spots. Kelsey Plum leads the charge with 20.1 points and 5.7 assists per game in her debut season with the Sparks. Dearica Hamby’s doing her bit too, contributing 16.9 points and 7.8 boards per outing. Azura Stevens? She’s pitching in with a solid 14.4 points and 8.3 rebounds. But here’s the biggest plot twist.
Sparks’ last win -yes, the one lonely W in their past seven games – came against none other than the Fever. Back on June 26, they torched Indiana with a 35-17 fourth-quarter run to grab an 85-75 victory at this very Gainbridge Fieldhouse. So technically, they know how to do it. The question is: can they do it again? Still, unless the Sparks find a way to rediscover that fourth-quarter magic and keep it going for all four quarters, this one looks like it’s headed for another Fever win. And if Indiana keeps playing defense like this, they might want to check if the Pacers want a few pointers.
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