Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Indianapolis, IN–
If you are a Indiana Fever fan today’s game against the Mystics without star Caitlin Clark, might have been a bust if you came to see her, but it certainly wasn’t a bust on the performance end by either team today with the Fever emerging in overtime, 79-74.
Clark, who had been listed as day to day with a leg injury could have seen the line-up if this was a regular season game. Since it was the first game of the season that doesn’t count for much more than trying to fill those final roster spots, the Fever opted not to dress Clark to play in the very physical game today for both teams.
Both teams would opt to go to their bench in the overtime period, with the Mystics putting up just 3 points in the extra period. Clearly a bit of work to do filling out the final bench spots on the roster.
The Fever has 10 new players to the roster this season and for quite a few of those it didn’t really seem to matter with Clark out of the line-up as newcomer Sophie Cunningham, proved that she is going to be a big part of this Fever team this season leading all scorers with 17 points on 6 for 11 shooting. She also had two run-ins with the Mystics players that had the refs separate players both times and assess technical fouls.
The Mystics also seemed to have qutie a bit more spark in the roster this season so far. Brittany Sykes showed the Fever she is not playing in the league this year and if she stays healthy the entire season, she should be a 18 point plus player every game.
With the final score today, you wouldn’t know that the Mystics lead for much of the first half and by as much 15 points in the second quarter.
Sonia Citron showed quite a bit of why the Mystics took her in the draft this season adding 15 points.
The huge difference in the gsme was the Mystics 25 turnovers. This is what lost not only the lead from early in the game, but the game itself. They must hold on to the ball or this might be another long season.
Fever Head Coach Stephanie White commented on Clark after the game and the long term value in her players. “I mean, look, the biggest thing is we have to think long term,” White said. “We have to make sure we’re not putting Caitlin at risk for injury, we’re not putting our team in a position where we’re thinking short term and not long term. It’s a long season, four more games than last season, so we want to make sure we’re extra cautious and put her health first and foremost.”
Game Notables.
Caitlin Clark hasn’t missed a game prior to today, including exhibitions and preseason, in five years. She played in all 139 games in her college career and all 49 (including preseason and postseason) in her rookie year in the WNBA, dating back to November 2020.
