Caitlin Clark revealed in a practice media availability on July 3 that she wouldn’t play in the Fever’s first meeting with the Aces on Sunday. While that’s incredibly disappointing news, the update came with a very encouraging overall outlook.
“I will be out Sunday, but I’m feeling a lot better,” Clark said.
She also added, “This week has been very helpful for my overall health.”
Even if she’s not ready to get back on the court this weekend, the latter is very good to hear. After playing the Aces, the Fever still have 25 regular-season games left and hopefully a deep playoff run. Indiana may not look like a contender quite yet, with an 11-8 record that has them sitting in seventh place, but that doesn’t change the high expectations for the team from within the organization and outside. Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell are all All-Star starters. With that kind of star power on the team, it’s only fair to expect at least a return to the semifinals.
The Fever got there without Clark last year, but it will be much easier to accomplish that again with her healthy and on the court. When she’s not playing, the Fever somehow have to make up for almost 22 points and 9 assists per game. So, hearing that a week of rest was good for her health is great news and softens the blow of knowing that she will miss a high-profile first game against the defending champions and the team that eliminated the Fever from the playoffs last year.
The Aces may be short-handed too
A’ja Wilson’s injury could even the playing field a bit on Sunday. Wilson rolled her ankle in a 107-99 win against the Chicago Sky and sat out the Commissioner’s Cup Final against the Liberty as well as a rematch with the Sky last night.
Much like the Fever, the Aces have other stars to survive Wilson’s absence, but without the three-time Defensive Player of the Year in the paint, it will be much easier for Kelsey Mitchell to get to the rim and Aliyah Boston to dominate the paint.
You always want to see the best players in the world play, and Wilson and Clark are two of them. But even with them sidelined, this promises to be a fun matchup.
With Clark out, Raven Johnson and Ty Harris will have to step up
After the injury nightmare that was last season—Clark, Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson, and Sophie Cunningham all suffered season-ending injuries—the Fever made sure to start the season with more guard depth. They signed Ty Harris in free agency and drafted Raven Johnson. Both will have to step up against the Aces’ deadly guard rotation of Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Jewell Loyd, and Chennedy Carter.
Harris played well in her first start of the season, putting up 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in an 111-87 win against the Sparks. Johnson has been inconsistent offensively, but her perimeter defense could be a difference-maker against the Aces.
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