The top two picks of the 2024 WNBA Draft will be spectators when the Indiana Fever host the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night in Indianapolis.
Caitlin Clark was ruled out Thursday morning by the Fever due to a left groin injury.
Clark, who is averaging 18.2 points, is just 1-for-23 from 3-point range in her past three games and comes off a season-low six points in Indiana’s win on Tuesday at Seattle.
Last year’s No. 2 overall pick, Cameron Brink, has yet to play for the Sparks this season while recovering from an ACL tear suffered in 2024.
Indiana (7-7) had one of its most complete performances of the season in its 94-86 win over the Storm, highlighted by Aliyah Boston erupting for a career-high 31 points.
“She was on balance all of the time,” Fever coach Stephanie White said. “She does such a good job of facilitating for us, sometimes I think she misses opportunities to be a scorer.
“I thought she did a good job of making the right read and finding the right players. She was efficient and hustling for opportunities and we were getting her the ball in a timely manner.”
The Sparks (4-11) have lost four straight games, including a disappointing 11-point defeat Tuesday night in Chicago. Los Angeles held a two-point lead entering the fourth quarter but was outscored 30-17 in the final frame.
“We have to be able to get stops in the fourth quarter,” first-year Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. “And I think offensively we got away from what was working, too much 1-on-1. We have to fix that and have some trust in the system and each other and make sure we are getting great shots down the stretch.”
The last report on Brink was that she started non-contract drills earlier this month — putting her on a timeline to return before the All-Star break that begins July 17.
While Los Angeles is led by Kelsey Plum’s 20.4 points and 5.4 assists per contest, the Sparks have allowed the third-most points in the WNBA at 87.3 per game.
Indiana made roster news Wednesday by releasing six-time WNBA All-Star DeWanna Bonner, who appeared in nine games before leaving the team for personal reasons. The Fever re-signed guard Aari McDonald.
Indiana will be without reserve forward Damiris Dantas through July 8 while she competes for Brazil in the AmeriCup. She’s averaging 4.6 points in 12 minutes per game.
–Field Level Media
