Caitlin Clark Returns, but the Indiana Fever’s Competitive Fire Dims
INDIANAPOLIS – Caitlin Clark’s return from a groin injury wasn’t enough to compensate for what coach Stephanie White described as a “lack of competitive fire” in the Indiana Fever. The team suffered an 80-61 home loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday.Clark, who scored 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting (2-of-5 from three) in his first game since June 24, added: “Overall, they played with more energy and effort, and those are things that just can’t happen.”We struggled with the scouting report. We struggled with the personnel. We struggled to do what the coaches asked us.
Caitlin Clark
The Fever (9-10) fell below .500 with this loss. Their record is 5-5 with Clark on the court and 5-5 without her, including last week’s win in the Commissioner’s Cup final, which did not count towards the regular season standings. Clark played just under 25 minutes on Wednesday, also accumulating five rebounds, six assists, and four turnovers. He now has 31 career games with 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists, a league record in a player’s first two seasons. Clark, who also missed five games between late May and early June due to a quadriceps injury, said it could take some time to catch his breath, but that “he felt pretty good” playing in shorter periods. White was generally pleased with Clark’s return, adding that there were moments when Clark “really looked good.” The Fever also had their first opportunity to pair Clark in the backcourt with fellow guard Aari McDonald, who had taken over the role during Clark’s absence. Indiana started with both guards and had Lexie Hull coming off the bench.I’m not sure if it’s not knowing the game plan… as much as not executing the game plan. Our attention to detail, our discipline. I felt that our energy and our competitive fire weren’t there, and that’s disappointing.
Stephanie White
The team’s offensive production on Wednesday left much to be desired, something White attributed to the Valkyries’ aggressiveness. The Fever committed 14 turnovers, made only 31% of their shots (their worst record since July 2019), and were left with a combined 19 points in the second and fourth quarters. Indiana was left with 26 points in the paint despite leading the league in scoring in the paint (approximately 40 PPG). Indiana’s loss marked their second consecutive defeat after a solid week in which, without Clark, the Fever defeated the top-ranked Minnesota Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup final and then the Las Vegas Aces, with their best defensive performances of the season.Maybe I’m naive, but I’m not worried about Caitlin getting back into an offensive rhythm. I think my biggest concern is, when we reincorporate her, how do we continue to maintain ball movement and get the ball going not just side to side, but baseline to baseline?
Stephanie White
I think our team has a lot of inconsistency. We rose to the occasion when we played for $30,000 [in the Cup final] and we need to bring that level of focus and that level of energy every day… We really need to regroup, turn the page, learn from this and come with a better mentality on Friday.
Lexie Hull
I think this is a group that concentrates, but you can concentrate and then you have to be able to go out and be disciplined enough to execute it, right? And I’m not sure [why there is inconsistency]. As coaches, that’s our job, to figure it out.
Stephanie White
