The Indiana Fever will face off against the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, September 4, at 7:00 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The game will be broadcast on MeTV and CBS Sports Network.
The Fever, with a record of 17-16, will likely start Kelsey Mitchell, who averages 19.0 points per game, along with Caitlin Clark (18.7 ppg), Lexie Hull (5.4 ppg), Aliyah Boston (13.4 ppg), and NaLyssa Smith (11.1 ppg).
On the other hand, the struggling Sparks, with a record of 7-25, are expected to start Odyssey Sims (9.9 ppg), Dearica Hamby (17.5 ppg), Azurá Stevens (10.5 ppg), Stephanie Talbot (4.2 ppg), and Rickea Jackson (12.6 ppg).
In terms of game status, Indiana’s Temi Fagbenle is listed as questionable due to a right shoulder issue. For Los Angeles, Cameron Brink, Lexie Brown, and Layshia Clarendon are all out for the game.
This matchup comes after the Fever secured a playoff spot and achieved a strong 5-1 record in August. The teams will meet for the last time in the regular season, with the Fever having previously won their first encounter 78-73 on May 24, where four players scored in double figures led by Mitchell’s 18 points. Mitchell has been exceptional since returning from the Olympic break, averaging 25.2 points per game and setting a franchise record with seven consecutive games scoring 20 or more points.
In their second meeting on May 28, the Sparks edged the Fever 88-82, despite Clark’s impressive 30-point outing. In Indiana’s recent win against the Chicago Sky, Clark achieved a career-high of 31 points and recorded 12 assists, marking a historical achievement as she surpassed Ticha Penicheiro for most games with at least 10 assists by a rookie in WNBA history.
As the Sparks look to improve their position in the standings, they have faced challenges, including the season-ending ACL injury to rookie Cameron Brink. Los Angeles finished August with a 1-6 record post-Olympics but managed to secure a victory against the New York Liberty in a recent game, where Hamby led the scoring.
Mitchell and Clark are both ranked among the league’s top scorers, while Hamby leads in rebounding, showcasing a competitive atmosphere as the game approaches.