GAME PREVIEW: FEVER CONTINUE HOMESTAND BY HOSTING SPARKS
Indiana Fever vs Los Angeles Sparks
Saturday, July 5
Gainbridge Fieldhouse | 7:00 p.m. ET
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Broadcast Information
TV: NBA TV/WTHR/Fever Direct
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan
Probable Starters
Indiana Fever (9-8)
Guard – Aari McDonald
Guard – Kelsey Mitchell
Forward – Lexie Hull
Forward – Natasha Howard
Center – Aliyah Boston
Los Angeles Sparks (5-13)
Guard – Julie Allemand
Guard – Kelsey Plum
Forward – Rickea Jackson
Forward – Azura Stevens
Center – Dearica Hamby
GAME PREVIEW:
The red-hot Fever look to continue their winning ways on Saturday when they welcome the Los Angeles Sparks to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the second game of a season-long five-game homestand. The Fever have won three straight games, including a win in Minnesota on Tuesday for the Commissioner’s Cup championship.
Indiana’s defense has been excellent lately. The Fever limited the league-leading Lynx to just 39 points over the final three quarters on Tuesday, then held Las Vegas to 26.2 percent shooting in an 81-54 rout of the Aces on Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Fever have won three in a row despite All-Star point guard Caitlin Clark missing all of those games with a groin injury. Kelsey Mitchell has averaged 23 points over the three victories, All-Star center Aliyah Boston has averaged 17.7 points and 8 rebounds, and veteran Natasha Howard has recorded three straight double-doubles.
The Sparks have the second-worst record in the WNBA, but they did hand the Fever their last loss, outscoring Indiana 35-17 in the fourth quarter of an 85-75 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 26. That is Los Angeles’ lone win in its last seven contests.
Kelsey Plum leads the Sparks in scoring, averaging 20.1 points and 5.7 assists in her first season in Los Angeles. Dearica Hamby adds 16.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, while Azura Stevens contributes 14.4 points and 8.3 boards per contest.
CAITLIN CLARK TO MISS FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME FOR FEVER VS. SPARKS
The Indiana Fever ruled Caitlin Clark out for Saturday’s home game against the Los Angeles Sparks due to her lingering left groin injury.
Clark will sit out for a fifth straight game and miss her 10th game of the season, including the Commissioner’s Cup final Tuesday, when Indiana toppled the league-leading Minnesota Lynx 74-59.
The Cup final does not count toward the regular-season standings, but nonetheless, the Fever have won three straight games during Clark’s absence.
Indiana coach Stephanie White said at the time of Clark’s injury that it was “very much a day-to-day thing.” After Saturday, the Fever are off again until a home date with the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday.
Clark, 23, sat out five games due to a left quad injury before returning to action against the New York Liberty on June 14. The second-year guard is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists and 5.0 rebounds in nine games (all starts) this season for Indiana
Clark won Rookie of the Year honors and made the All-Star and All-WNBA teams in 2024-25 following a record-setting career at Iowa.
