Since the All-Star and Olympic break, the Indiana Fever, with eight wins, trail only the Minnesota Lynx in the number of victories recorded in the WNBA. Following a challenging start to their season with a record of 1-8, the Fever have turned things around, now standing at 19-17 and ranked sixth for the upcoming playoffs.
Indiana has proven its capability to compete against the top teams in the league, securing wins over Minnesota, New York, and Connecticut. On Wednesday night, they’ll be looking to add the Las Vegas Aces to that list.
Previously, the Aces have won both of their home matchups against the Fever, defeating them by comfortable margins. In their last encounter, Vegas was favored by 13 points, but this time they are only slight favorites at two points on the road. This shift in the odds could reflect both a change in how sportsbooks view Indiana and the potential impact of A’ja Wilson’s ankle injury. The two-time MVP missed her first game in three years and her status is uncertain for the upcoming match.
Las Vegas’s overall performance has seen a drop in net rating compared to last season, currently sitting at 5.5, whereas they led the league in defensive efficiency previously. Their scoring ability has also diminished, failing to keep pace with improved defensive efforts around the league.
On the flip side, the Fever have exploded offensively, ranking third in efficiency with an impressive 103.8. At home, their performance peaks, making them the second-best team in terms of offensive rating.
Despite early struggles, which included a tough schedule against formidable opponents, rookie point guard Caitlin Clark has swiftly emerged as a remarkable talent. She has broken or tied multiple WNBA records during her inaugural season, including assists and scoring milestones. With four regular-season games left, she is just 52 points shy of the rookie scoring record set by Seimone Augustus.
The Fever’s offensive efficiency is aided significantly by Clark’s perimeter skills and her ability to facilitate scoring for teammates. When playing at home, Indiana has particularly excelled, indicated by their impressive net rating improvement.
As the Fever face the Aces, the outcome of the game may largely depend on whether Indiana can maintain strong performance throughout all four quarters. Given their recent form and the potential absence of Wilson, they stand a good chance of starting strong, making the Fever a compelling pick for the first quarter moneyline.