Even with Caitlin Clark sidelined by a nagging groin pressure, the Indiana Fever managed to knock off the menacing Minnesota Lynx, league leaders in offensive, defensive and web scores, within the Commissioners Cup. Indiana seized the WNBAs in-season event via an odds-breaking street upset. Subsequent up is reigning MVP Aja Wilson and her gifted if mercurial Las Vegas Aces. Clark stays out Thursday night time and can miss her fourth straight sport.
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse Indianapolis
Time: 7 p.m. ET, Thursday
TV: Prime Video (nationwide), WTHR Channel 13 and Vegas 34 (regional)
Streaming: Fubo (in market, strive at no cost)
Watching in individual? Get tickets on StubHub.
This 2025 Fever season is especially unusual. Clark has discovered towering heights (her pyrotechnics in opposition to the then-undefeated New York Liberty) and gnarly lows (1-for-23 on 3-pointers within the latest ill-fated Western Convention street journey). Certain-thing Corridor of Famer DeWanna Bonner got here in for a veteran increase, solely to search out herself on waivers. The crew is struggling to remain above .500, but it simply conquered the Ws most dominant pressure.
The Fever lifted the Commissioners Cup in Minnesota off the power of a lopsided second quarter. They held the leagues most effective scorers to only seven factors within the interval, as Sophie Cunningham drilled two 3s and Natasha Howard made six free throws. Indianas protection was totally title-worthy on Tuesday, stifling MVP favourite Napheesa Collier inside (6-for-18, 5 turnovers, one tense confrontation with Aliyah Boston) whereas clamping down the perimeter.
Like Indiana, Las Vegas arrives with a tempered 8-8 file. Becky Hammons group, a semifinal-or-better fixture for the final six years, is now ninth in web ranking per Basketball Reference. Wilson continues to be placing up factors at 21.6 factors per sport, however shes doing so on career-worst taking pictures splits and turnover charges. The Aces did management their final matchup in opposition to the Fever, although, an 89-81 dwelling win with 19-for-21 free-throw taking pictures. Chelsea Grey had an environment friendly 18 factors and two steals in that contest.
The forthcoming 2025 All-Star Sport can be performed on the Fevers dwelling venue. Amongst guards, Clark completed with the second-highest weighted rating (and probably the most fan votes), whereas her teammate Kelsey Mitchell got here in fifth and Vegas Jackie Younger in tenth. Wilson had the second-highest weighted rating within the frontcourt; Boston was fourth.
Finest participant to put on each jerseys: Danielle Robinson, the shifty and energetic defensive specialist. Natalie Williams deserves a shoutout right here, although. The three-time All-WNBA middle made 4 complete All-Star appearances for these two franchises however that was again with the Aces first predecessor, the now-defunct Utah Starzz.
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