The Indiana Fever held a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Sparks but couldn’t close and get the win without Caitlin Clark.
Clark did not play Thursday night due to a groin injury. It was her sixth missed game of the season after a quad injury cost her five games. Clark’s status beyond Thursday is day-to-day, according to coach Stephanie White, and this setback comes as she’s in the midst of a prolonged slump. The 2024 WNBA rookie of the year has made just one of her past 23 3-point attempts over the last three games.
The Fever are now 2-4 without Clark this season.
This was also the first game for Indiana since DeWanna Bonner, a free agent acquisition this past offseason, requested her release and was subsequently waived by the franchise after missing five games for personal reasons. Her absence came following a demotion from the starting lineup.
Sparks vs. Fever highlights
Final: Sparks 85, Fever 75
The Los Angeles Sparks came out swinging in the fourth quarter and controlled the final frame en route to victory.
A Natasha Howard basket put Indiana up 10 with 9:26 to go but L.A. outscored the Fever in the frame 35-17.
A Kelsey Plum 3-pointer finally put the Sparks back in front, 67-66, with 4:13 to go. Dearica Hamby and Azura Stevens put in the daggers with put-back baskets in the final minute.
Check out full stats from the game here.
Caitlin Clark injury complicates shooting slump
Caitlin Clark missed the Indiana Fever’s game Thursday night with a groin injury, but her shooting slump continues to draw attention.
Stay present. Be the goldfish. Reflect. Don’t ruminate.
Unsolicited tips on how to help Clark’s shooting woes continue to pour in, thanks in part to four slump-busting experts who talked to USA TODAY Sports about The Slump.
Check out the full story from Josh Peter here.
End of third quarter: Fever 58, Sparks 50
The Indiana Fever take an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter and it would have been a double-digit margin if Shey Peddy hadn’t hit a layup at the buzzer for the Sparks.
The difference in the game has been the 3-point shot and turnovers. The Fever have hit seven of their 22 attempts from beyond the arc while the Sparks are just 4-for-17. L.A. has 19 turnovers to Indiana’s 10.
Fever 34, Sparks 30: Halftime
It wasn’t a second quarter to remember as both offenses struggled to hold onto the ball and score.
Los Angeles couldn’t have had a worse start to the second quarter as it didn’t score a single point in the first six-and-a-half minutes of the frame. During that time, the Sparks went 0-for-6 from the field and turned it over six times.
But for as bad the Sparks were, Indiana was struggling to make buckets, consistently missing 3-point opportunities. It led by as many as nine points before a late surge in the quarter got Los Angeles within one point in the final minute. A Sophie Cunningham 3-pointer helped extend the lead before the break.
Indiana is shooting just 29.7% from the field and Los Angeles is 40.7%, but turnovers have kept the Fever in the game. The Sparks have turned it over 15 times, already equaling their average for the season. Rickea Jackson and Natasha Howard each lead with eight points for their teams.
Sparks 20, Fever 19: End of 1Q
It was a tale of two parts in the first quarter. The Sparks hold a slim lead after the Fever shook off a sluggish start.
Los Angeles started hot with a 9-0 run in the first three minutes and seven makes in its first 10 shot attempts. However, Indiana woke up and eventually took a one-point lead in the final minute of the frame. Free throws by Emma Cannon gave the Sparks the lead right back before the buzzer.
The Sparks’ Rickea Jackson has eight points while Natasha Howard leads Indiana with six.
What time is Sparks vs. Fever?
The WNBA regular-season game between the Los Angeles Sparks and Indiana Fever is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
How to watch Sparks vs. Fever WNBA game: TV, stream
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
TV: FanDuel Sport Network-Indiana (local)
Stream: Amazon Prime