The Indiana Fever saved their postseason push alive with an 85–77 victory over the Connecticut Solar on Tuesday night time, however the win got here at a value. Taking part in in entrance of a sellout crowd of 19,156 at TD Backyard — the second-largest in Solar franchise historical past — the Fever noticed star guard Caitlin Clark exit within the remaining minute after showing to re-aggravate a groin harm. Her standing is formally listed as questionable for Wednesday’s back-to-back in opposition to the New York Liberty.
Clark’s departure put a damper on what had been a signature night time for the league. The win marked Indiana’s third straight — their longest streak of the season — enhancing the staff’s report to 12–10. Connecticut, in the meantime, dropped its seventh straight to fall to three–19, persevering with a pointy downward spiral.
A Night time Made for the Huge Stage
With greater than 19,000 followers packed into one in every of basketball’s most iconic venues, the Backyard buzzed with vitality and anticipation. The sellout crowd featured a mixture of Celtics inexperienced and WNBA orange, symbolizing each historical past and progress.
“Boston’s an incredible sports activities metropolis that desires a WNBA staff,” Fever head coach Stephanie White mentioned earlier than the sport. “Anytime now we have a chance to have fun the W in new cities, it provides followers an opportunity to see these girls — the very best on this planet at what they do.”
“It was my first time ever enjoying on this area,” mentioned Natasha Howard, who completed with 18 factors and 13 rebounds. “I used to be actually shocked how many individuals got here out right this moment.”
Sophie Cunningham added, “There’s a lot historical past on this constructing. Y’all have to get a staff right here.”
The environment intensified late within the sport when a courtside fan was ejected following a verbal altercation with Connecticut’s Saniya Rivers.
TD Backyard sells out for Fever vs. Solar.
I’ve by no means been to a girls’s sporting occasion of this caliber and tbh I’m getting emotional 🥹😭 pic.twitter.com/1XvUhvyz8r
— Marlee Wierda (@marleewierda) July 16, 2025
Caitlin Clark’s Fourth-Quarter Surge Ends in Ache
Clark completed with 14 factors — 9 of which got here in a gutsy fourth quarter the place she helped Indiana lastly create separation. However her night time ended with seen ache and emotion as she limped off the ground after a go, clutching her proper leg. She didn’t return.
“No replace,” White mentioned. “Simply felt somewhat one thing in her groin. So, we’ll get it evaluated and see what occurs from there.”
Clark had already drawn consideration earlier within the sport with a heated change with veteran referee Michael Worth after a missed foul name. Assistant coach Briann January rapidly stepped in to de-escalate.
“There’s a degree of physicality that they’re capable of play with in opposition to her,” White mentioned postgame. “I’m not precisely certain why, however it simply is what it’s. We’ve obtained to assist her study to regulate.”
Caitlin Clark leaves the sport after injuring her groin
Final 7 Games14 PTS, 7 AST (1/7 3PT)14 PTS, 13 AST (2/7 3PT)12 PTS, 9 AST (1/7 3PT)10 PTS, 6 AST (2/5 3PT)6 PTS, 9 AST (0/6 3PT)19 PTS, 10 AST (1/10 3PT)11 PTS, 9 AST (0/7 3PT) pic.twitter.com/nJYBt04ZJC
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) July 16, 2025
Kelsey Mitchell Leads, Boston Closes
Kelsey Mitchell prolonged her double-digit scoring streak to 22 video games, main the Fever with 20 factors. She was balanced by Howard’s double-double and 12 factors from Aliyah Boston, who got here alive late with key screens, rebounds, and passes.
“She attracts a lot consideration, folks have to protect her,” Howard mentioned of Boston. “When she attracts that, she opens issues up for everybody else.”
Indiana opened the sport 8-for-8 from the sector and led by two at halftime. The Solar briefly pulled forward within the third quarter, however Indiana responded with a gentle mixture of inside scoring and well timed capturing.
“It’s the primary time we’ve had a full roster,” White mentioned. “They’re having to study each other in-game. Typically you must win ugly, and we had been lucky to have the ability to do this.”
Kelsey Mitchell tonight 🔥
• 20 factors • 3 assists • 8/13 FGpic.twitter.com/kn3hQ6FlQf
— Girls’s Hoops Community (@WomensHoops_USA) July 16, 2025
Solar Slide Continues
Tina Charles led Connecticut with 21 factors and 11 rebounds. After the sport, she centered on the second past the field rating.
“It was a tremendous expertise,” Charles mentioned. “It was successful, though we didn’t get the win.”
The Solar have now dropped seven straight video games and seem headed towards a developmental second half of the season as they seek for solutions on each ends.
Boston reveals like to the WNBA Second All-Time main scorer, Tina Charles 🔥 pic.twitter.com/v4lcwj3kpj
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 15, 2025
Trying Forward
The Fever can have little time to regroup earlier than taking over the Liberty on Wednesday night time in Brooklyn. Clark’s availability stays the looming query.
“We simply take it one step at a time,” White mentioned. “She’s being evaluated. This group has performed with out her. We all know now we have a tricky opponent in New York… we simply obtained to get locked in and able to compete.”
Whether or not Clark fits up or not, the Fever have discovered their id throughout this latest stretch — one constructed on toughness, well timed capturing, and the flexibility to rise to the second beneath the league’s brightest lights.
