BOSTON — The Indiana Fever recorded an 85-77 win over Connecticut at TD Garden on Tuesday night, but concerns swirled for Fever star Caitlin Clark’s health after she left the game late.
Indiana moved to 12-10 with the win, and play in less than 24 hours against New York in Brooklyn on Wednesday night.
Advertisement
Here are three observations:
Caitlin Clark winces, holds back tears as she leaves game
Caitlin Clark left Indiana’s game late in the fourth quarter after wincing and grabbing the top of her right leg.
With 39 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Clark checked out of the game after an assist to Kelsey Mitchell. She went to turn around on defense and grabbed near her groin on her right leg.
Clark has already had a groin injury this season, but that was on her left leg. She also had a left quad injury, and those two injuries kept her out for 10 total games so far this season.
Clark seemed to be tearing up on the sideline in the final seconds of the game, and she sat on the bench with a towel over her head as the Fever closed out the win.
Advertisement
“No update, just felt a little something in her groin, so we’ll get it evaluated and see what happens from there,” Fever coach Stephanie White said postgame.
Indiana allows Connecticut to stay close entire game
Indiana came into the game at 11-10, and Connecticut was 3-18. On paper, it seemed like Indiana should come away with an easy win.
But things aren’t as easy as they look. Especially when one of Connecticut’s three wins coming into the game was against Indiana.
Indiana could never create space against Connecticut on Tuesday night, no matter how much the Fever scored. The Fever scored 29 points in the first quarter, but only led by one as they allowed 28 to the Sun. At halftime and at the end of the third quarter, the lead was just two.
Advertisement
The Fever allowed 12 offensive rebounds and turned the ball over 12 times, giving Connecticut multiple extra possessions. Indiana still won the game at the end of the day, but it was much more difficult than it should’ve been.
Fan wearing Fever jersey gets ejected
A fan wearing a No. 22 Indiana Fever t-shirt jersey was ejected from his courtside seat in the second quarter.
It happened after a timeout, when Sun guard Saniya Rivers went to the sideline where the fan was sitting to inbound the ball. Rivers then stepped away from the sideline, having a passionate conversation with two referees.
Security eventually identified the fan, who was escorted out of his seat and taken up through the lower-level seats to the concourse. Other fans booed and waved goodbye as he left with a security escort.
Advertisement
It’s not clear what the fan said or did to Rivers for him to get ejected.
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at capeterson@gannett.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fever vs Sun: Indiana gets win, but may have lost Caitlin Clark to injury
