The Indiana Fever suffered a crushing 86-66 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday night, marking a career-worst performance for star player Caitlin Clark, who scored just two points in 18 minutes. The defeat comes as the Fever prepare for the WNBA playoffs, which begin on Sunday.
Clark, who averaged 22.3 points per game this season, acknowledged the team’s struggles, stating, “It sucks. It is what it is. We kinda came out, got punched in the mouth.” The Fever shot 34.2% from the field for the night, contributing to their poor performance. Two key players, All-Star Aliyah Boston and Tyasha Harris, exited the game due to injuries and did not return.
Clark attributed part of the loss to the Lynx’s increased physicality compared to their previous matchup, a 96-77 Fever blowout on Tuesday in which Clark scored 27 points and nine assists. Fever coach Stephanie White called the performance a rare shooting slump and emphasized the need to learn from the loss ahead of the postseason.
The Lynx, led by rookie phenom Olivia Miles, will face the New York Liberty in the first round of the playoffs, while the Fever will begin their postseason run against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, who are led by A’ja Wilson, the reigning MVP.
The Fever’s struggles in the loss have raised questions about their readiness for the playoffs, particularly given their upcoming matchup against a top-seeded team. Despite the setback, the team is expected to regroup and focus on preparation for the postseason, which begins this weekend.