One ESPN analyst stirred the pot on “SportsCenter” after the Fever’s win on Thursday.
And it was yet another without the injured Caitlin Clark.
Carolyn Peck claimed that the Fever are actually “more dangerous” without their star guard.
“I believe Indiana becomes even more formidable when Caitlin Clark is not playing because she usually dominates the ball,” she commented. “Clark often has the ball, which gives you a clear target to focus on. Without her, Indiana showcases a variety of other strengths.”
The Fever improved to 9-8 following their stunning 81-54 rout of the Aces despite Clark’s absence.
One of Indiana’s other standout players in the backcourt, Kelsey Mitchell, achieved a team-best 25 points, shooting 9-of-18 with four successful three-pointers out of six attempts.
Indiana also topped the Minnesota Lynx 74-59 in the Commissioner’s Cup Final without Clark.
“With a point guard like Kelsey Mitchell, paired with perimeter plays from Aari McDonald, and a strong post player like Aliyah Boston, Indiana presents a significant challenge,” Peck explained. “Their strength, particularly on defense, makes them a formidable team.”
With Clark, the Fever are 5–4, averaging an 85.0 offensive rating.
Without Clark, Indiana has posted a 5-4 record as well — including the Cup win — but with a modest decline in offense, averaging around an 80.2 offensive rating, although their defense’s points allowed drops by nearly five per 100 possessions.
Clark’s injury-plagued season has caused her to miss half the Fever games this year due to a left quad strain and a groin ailment.
And Peck notes that others have elevated in her absence, which does tend to happen when a high-usage player is sidelined, especially on the defensive end because the director of heliocentric offensive play hardly has the energy to be an elite defender.
That said, it’s hard to build a case for the Fever being more potent without Clark in the long term, despite their encouraging moments.
The high-profile sophomore has been named an All-Star for a second consecutive season despite her injuries.
Clark averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.6 turnovers on 42/34/91 shooting splits as a rookie.
This season, Clark is at 18.2 points, 8.9 assists and 5.9 turnovers per game.
Clark is expected to miss yet another game, her 1oth of the season, as the Fever play the Sparks on Saturday.
