Caitlin Clark is just one step away from capturing the first trophy of her WNBA career. But standing in her way are the reigning champions Minnesota Lynx, led by none other than Napheesa Collier. Yes, we’re only hours away from the Commissioner’s Cup final. You can expect the Target Center in Minneapolis to be electric and packed with fans. Everyone is eager to see the two MVP favorites battle it out for ultimate glory. But hold that excitement, because if this reporter’s prediction turns out to be true, it spells trouble for the Indiana Fever.
Ahead of the highly anticipated Commissioner’s Cup Final, the Indiana Fever’s social media team dropped a photo that got fans buzzing. It featured Caitlin Clark in full game gear, front and center with her teammates, with the caption: “eyes on the prize. tomorrow we battle for the Commissioner’s Cup Championship at 8 p.m. against the Lynx.” Naturally, this sparked speculation that Clark would be in the lineup. And this came after fans’ excitement had already hit another level when WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called to congratulate Clark on being named an All-Star captain. But it was Clark’s confident response to Engelbert’s well-wishes for the upcoming game against the Lynx that really let hopes fly. “Yeah, we about to get that dub, Cathy,” Clark said. Yet, those hopes could not soar for long as the situation took an unexpected turn.
When Coach White was asked about an update on Clark’s injury status following the training last night, this is what she had to say. “We still don’t know. It’s a day-to-day thing. Did some stuff at practice today, making sure we don’t have any setbacks. We got to be smart about this. We’ll evaluate tomorrow morning at shootaround.” And taking her comments into account, Rachel DeMita shared a prediction that might not sit well with many fans on the eve of such a big game. But she has facts to back it up.
Speaking on her YouTube channel, DeMita said, “A lot of people are wondering, will Caitlin Clark play in this game? As you guys know, she has been pulled for a groin injury, and the team, the coaching staff, and Caitlin continue to say that it’s day-to-day. She was in practice the past few days, but it was just reported today that she only partially practiced, which indicates to me that she probably won’t be playing tomorrow.”
Jun 26, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts to the action against the Los Angeles Sparks during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith/INDIANAPOLIS STAR-Imagn Images
Well, the prediction does make a lot of sense. According to Brett Bensley, Caitlin Clark was spotted at practice following the Fever’s impressive 94-86 win over the Dallas Wings. However, the Clark Report on X later clarified that the superstar was only able to partially participate in training. So, it remains to be seen if she will be available for tomorrow’s game.
DeMita further emphasized that Clark should take all the time she needs to fully recover. Resting now could be key to avoiding more injuries down the road and ensuring she has a long, healthy season. If missing the Commissioners Cup means she could stay injury-free for games that actually count, wouldn’t fans take just that? On top of that, if Clark rushes her return, we could see a repeat of her recent struggles! She went just 1-for-23 from beyond the arc and shot 25.6% in her final three games before the groin injury.
That said, not all hope is lost for the Fever. They can still win against the Lynx! WNBA legend has given her own pointers, which could help the Fever win!
Sue Bird gives the perfect game plan for Indiana to win without Caitlin Clark
An 8-8 record to start the season isn’t something to be proud of. But, thankfully, four of those wins came during the Commissioner’s Cup play, and they were enough to earn them a spot in the final against the defending champions. But with Clark’s availability still under wraps, can they win without her? After all, Clark or no Clark, the Fever would want to do their all to pocket that prize money.
Well, Sue Bird has given her input as to how they can achieve that! “Can Indiana, who is 11th in opponents free-throw attempts, stop fouling Minnesota?” Bird said in her podcast. “Because you cannot—you cannot—give Minnesota easy points. You gotta keep them off the free-throw line. Also, can Indiana, who is in the bottom half of the league in turnovers, limit them against a defense that is third in forcing turnovers? Those are two quick areas you can keep your eye on.”
The Fever are giving away 23.3 free throws while also committing 13.4 turnovers per game. To win against the Lynx, they will definitely have to do a much better job than this. However, Bird also warned the team saying that Clark’s availability is the biggest factor. So, they will actually have to pull out all the stops if she is not on the floor.
Do you see the Fever winning against the Lynx without Caitlin Clark? Let us know in the comments down below!
The post Worst Possible Caitlin Clark Outcome For Indiana Fever Fans Ahead of Commissioner’s Cup, Per National Reporter appeared first on EssentiallySports.