Fever visit Sun for fourth meeting of the season as Clark remains out
Expect more intensity than usual when the Indiana Fever head to Mohegan Sun Arena to face the Connecticut Sun on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The matchup will mark the fourth meeting of the season between the former Eastern Conference contenders, with the Fever holding a 2-1 edge in the series heading into this game. The Sun will be eager to even the season series on their home floor, hours after a full slate of conference action.
Recent history between the teams has included drama and big moments. Connecticut opened the season series with an 85-83 win on May 30. Indiana evened the score with an 88-71 victory on June 17, a game that featured multiple skirmishes. In that contest, Caitlin Clark and Jacy Sheldon were involved in a heated moment after incidental contact, leading to a flagrant on Sheldon and technicals for Clark, Marina Mabrey, and Tina Charles. Later in the same game, Sophie Cunningham was ejected after a hard foul on Sheldon, with Sheldon and Lindsay Allen also tossed. Sheldon has since moved on from Connecticut, having been traded to the Washington Mystics.
The most recent meeting came on July 15, when Indiana again prevailed, 85-77. Clark left with a right groin injury late in the game and has since missed 12 straight contests. Sunday is expected to mark her 13th consecutive absence.
What to know about the Sunday matchup
– Time and place: 1 p.m. ET at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The game will be shown on NBA TV.
– Series leaders: The Fever hold a 2-1 edge in the season series today, with Connecticut looking to flip the script on its home floor.
– Clark’s status: Indiana will be without Caitlin Clark, who has been sidelined with a right groin injury for over a month and is unlikely to play Sunday.
– Key players to watch: Connecticut will lean on its core, including Marina Mabrey and Tina Charles, to carry the scoring load in Clark’s absence. Indiana will need contributions from the rest of its lineup to compensate for Clark’s absence and try to keep the series advantage.
Outlook
The absence of Clark could shift the balance toward Indiana’s depth and ball movement, while Connecticut will attempt to capitalize on the Sun’s home-court edge and a possible boost from recent roster changes. The matchup has a history of physical, competitive basketball, and with the Sun looking to even the season series and the Fever aiming to extend their edge, fans can expect a hard-nosed battle from tip-off.
Summary
Indiana arrives with a 2-1 edge in the season series and without Caitlin Clark, seeking to maintain its advantage on the road against a Connecticut team eager to rebound at home. The game promises procedural, disciplined basketball and a potential for tense moments given the history between the two clubs.