Fever Coach Stephanie White Reveals Clear Thoughts on Playing Without Caitlin Clark
The Indiana Fever played the final game of the WNBA's Commissioner Cup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Lynx. Star guard Caitlin Clark was unable to suit up due to a strained groin, and it seemed to mean the Lynx had a sizable advantage in this game.
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But the Fever won convincingly, 74-59. Veteran forward Natasha Howard, who joined them in the offseason as a free agent, was named the MVP with 16 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.
Overall, Indiana has now won seven of its last 11 games (Tuesday's game, however, doesn't count toward its official season record), even though Clark has been in and out of the lineup. Head coach Stephanie White feels that having to go to war without the reigning Rookie of the Year will pay off in the long run.
"Learning to play without [Caitlin], learning to make big plays in tough moments on both ends of the floor is important because that's gonna pay dividends down the stretch of the season for us," White said.
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Even though Clark has been struggling with her shooting, especially her 3-point shooting, she remains a huge threat who makes life easier for her teammates. But Indiana still has a decent amount of talent outside of her.
Overall, the team has five players averaging double figures in scoring, including Howard, who was at 11.2 points in 23.8 minutes a game coming into Tuesday. Guard Kelsey Mitchell leads Indiana with an average of 18.9 points per game.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) missed the Commissioner's Cup matchup due to a lingering groin injury.Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
The Fever trailed by as many as 13 points against the Lynx and scored just seven points in the second quarter. But they fought back thanks to a team effort, as well as a team defense that held Minnesota to 32 points after halftime.
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Clark is averaging 18.2 points and 8.9 assists per contest so far this season, although she's shooting just 39% from the field and 29.5% from 3-point range.
Related: Dick Vitale Had Animated Response to Unexpected Caitlin Clark News
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
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