Caitlin Clark has missed games since July 15 due to a groin injury, yet the Indiana Fever haven’t skipped a beat. They’re currently riding a four-game win streak, each victory in near double digits. Even in their last loss, against the New York Liberty on July 19, the Fever pushed the league’s top team, with Kelsey Mitchell exploding for 29 points. So what does this stretch of strong performances say about the Fever? Are they more dangerous without Caitlin Clark?
That’s the claim made by ESPN analyst Carolyn Peck a month ago. “Indiana is even more dangerous when Caitlin Clark doesn’t play,” she said. “Because she’s a ball-dominant guard. The ball is in her hands a lot, so you know what you need to try to take away. But when you look at Indiana now, they’ve got so many weapons.” Peck pointed to players like Mitchell and Aari McDonald, who become more aggressive offensively when they are tasked with leading the backcourt.
Peck’s comments resurfaced recently when a major outlet used them to resuggest that the Fever are better without Clark, citing their dominant win over Phoenix and McDonald’s breakout game as evidence. However, this narrative of praising Indiana’s depth at Clark’s expense hasn’t sat well with fans. Many were quick to criticize the argument online, pointing out Clark’s overall impact on the court.
ABC just did a whole bit on Carolyn Peck doubling down on her comments about the Fever being more dangerous without Caitlin Clark. The rationale was Aari is a shooting guard, and they highlighted the Phoenix game, like it was typical for Aari.
It’s obvious engagement farming.…
— Ken Swift (@kenswift) August 2, 2025
One fan wrote about how absurd it is to dish out to an injured player. “I’ve never seen an injured player this disrespected. It’s useless,” they penned down. Furthermore, the fan wished for CC’s return and to prove all her critics wrong. However, one fan believed the hate towards Clark would never stop.
Taking to X to voice their opinion, they wrote, “My only thing is that it’s so easy to say this about Caitlin, but I guarantee you she’d never say the Sky are better without Reese if they were winning all these games without her.” Many fans also pointed out that if Angel Reese, A’ja Wilson, or Napheesa Collier missed out on the games.
But one fan had a positive outlook towards these comments. “I took it as giving credit to the FO and the team that could withstand a prolonged absence by CC. Makes it easier to keep her out until she is fully recovered,” they wrote on X. While Clark’s fans have actively shot down the narrative that the Fever are better without her, the numbers tell a different story.
The performance of the Indiana Fever while Caitlin Clark is on the bench
The numbers support a more nuanced reality. When Clark was on the team, Indiana averaged 81.7 points per game. Now, without her during the current win streak, that number has climbed to 85.3. However, they have taken a hit in the assists department. Their assist numbers have dropped slightly because Clark was averaging 8.8 assists per game. The second-best on the team is Aari McDonald, who is nowhere near Clark with a score of 4.5 assists per game.
Their three-point percentage has dipped from 35.1% to 32.4%. They now rank sixth in the WNBA in threes made, averaging 8.4 per game. Teams like Liberty, Lynx, Dream, Valkyries, Mercury, and Sparks have outdone them from beyond the arc. Furthermore, their 2024 average of 3 points per game was 9.2, which has taken a considerable hit this season.
What’s clear is that Indiana’s system has adjusted, not necessarily improved, in her absence. Players like Mitchell and McDonald are stepping up, but it’s a matter of evolution, not subtraction. In short, the Fever’s recent surge reflects their growing roster depth more than Clark’s absence. If anything, it suggests that when she returns, they may be even more dangerous.
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