rewrite this content and keep HTML tags (remove this from content : rewrite this content and keep HTML tags)
Caitlin Clark’s quad injury could affect Fever for next two weeks
Caitlin Clark will miss at least two weeks with a left quad strain. Indiana Fever fans may be worried, but Clark is confident in her teammates.
Sports Seriously
CHICAGO — The Indiana Fever are facing the Chicago Sky for the second time this season, but they are without superstar guard Caitlin Clark for the fourth consecutive game.
Clark confirmed she won’t suit up on Saturday as the Fever take on the Sky at the United Center, a matchup that will count toward the 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup standings. Clark is recovering from a left quad strain suffered in the Fever’s loss to the New York Liberty on May 24 and was expected to be out for at least two weeks, meaning the earliest she could return to the lineup is Tuesday at Atlanta.
The Fever are 1-2 in Clark’s absence. Indiana dropped the first two games without Clark, but rebounded with an 85-76 win over the Washington Mystics on June 3. Kelsey Mitchell recorded a game-high 24 points in the win, tying her season high.
Meanwhile, Chicago enters Saturday riding a two-game win streak after starting the season with four consecutive losses, including a season-opening 93-58 loss to the Fever on May 17. Angel Reese leads the league in rebounds per game (12.3), but the Sky will need to create more offense to keep their winning streak alive.
Here are the latest updates from this matchup, including score and highlights.
With a quarter and a half still to play, Natasha Howard might have just delivered the dagger for the Indiana Fever.
The Sky had smothered the Fever for almost the entire length of the shot clock, only to have Kelsey Mitchell flip the ball to Howard, who drained a 3 as the buzzer sounded. It extended Indiana’s lead to 54-35 and gave Howard 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting. — Nancy Armour
That was a rough ending to the first half for the Chicago Sky.Â
Both teams are short-handed, but the Fever has had a little more poise and controlled much of the first half. But the Sky cranked up the defense, limiting the Fever’s offense while making a few shots of their own, and managed to pare Indiana’s lead to 34-26 on a Kia Nurse 3 with 1:17 left in the half.Â
But Lexie Hull hit a three, and the Sky got sloppy, sending Indiana to the foul line three times in the last 35 seconds. The Fever made 4 of their 6 free throws, extending their lead. — Nancy Armour
Score: Indiana Fever 41, Chicago Sky 28
Unsurprisingly, Courtney Vandersloot has been ruled out for the rest of the game.Â
The veteran guard was driving to the basket midway through the first quarter when she went to the ground, clutching her knee. She had to be helped off the floor and was carried straight to the locker room. — Nancy Armour
No Caitlin Clark, no problem so far. Indiana leads the Sky, 21-13. Kelsey Mitchell leads Fever players with eight points on a perfect 3-of-3 from the field.
Kamila Cardoso (shoulder) has four points on 1-of-2 shooting, also grabbing three boards in the first quarter.
Courtney Vandersloot went down with a knee injury midway through the first quarter and this does not look good for her. Or the Chicago Sky.
The veteran point guard appeared to come down hard beneath the basket and immediately clutched her knee. Her teammates quickly gathered around her and she stayed on the ground for several minutes before being carried off the floor and right to the locker room.Â
Vandersloot’s return to Chicago after two years with the New York Liberty was the Sky’s big move this offseason, signed for both her point guard savvy and veteran leadership. Angel Reese was praising her calmness before the game, saying it’s helped the team during a rough start to the season.Â
Vandersloot was originally drafted by the Sky. She recently became the team’s scoring leader, breaking wife Allie Quigley’s record. — Nancy Armour
Kamilla Cardoso is in the starting lineup for Saturday night’s game against the Indiana Fever.
Cardoso was held out of practice a couple of times this weekend for what Sky coach Tyler Marsh said was precautions over shoulder issues. But he said before the game that she was good to go and, indeed, she was on the court for the opening tip. — Nancy Armour
What time is Sky vs. Fever?
Saturday’s matchup between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky is set to tip off at 8 pm. ET, with the action taking place at the United Center in Chicago.
How to watch Sky vs. Fever WNBA game: TV, stream
Time: 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. CTLocation: United Center (Chicago)TV:Â CBSStream:Â Fubo, WNBA League Pass, YouTube TV
Clark said Thursday she would not play in the Fever’s matchup against the Sky on Saturday, marking the fourth consecutive game she’ll miss due to a left quad injury.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.