Ever since Caitlin Clark went down with a groin injury, the Fever has adopted a new policy: Transparency. HC Stephanie White has been openly sharing the team’s plans, expectations, and progress on CC’s recovery. It feels like a calculated attempt to rebuild the public’s trust in the organization’s updates. It was needed, though, especially in the aftermath of the DeWanna Bonner controversy. As Rachel DeMita put it, “And then it comes out that there was something totally different happening behind the scenes. And so at this point, we just don’t know if we can trust what’s actually coming out of the organization.”

In Bonner’s case, the fans had to pick up on hints and launch investigations of their own. By checking the status of roster’s banners, Bonner’s Instagram feed, etc. Which is why the Fever have decided to change tact, and with more than 12 full hours ahead of their matchup against the Aces, Stephanie White made sure to get ahead of the conversation. But the news wasn’t a good one for the Indiana faithful. There was an expectation that CC might have made some progress, especially considering the fact that she was listed day-to-day before the games against the Lynx.

She had even claimed earlier that “I feel good, I’m gonna be day-to-day from here on out, and doing everything I can to put myself in a position to play the next game every single time.” The hope was that CC would at least get some minutes in the game against the Aces. But White’s statement before the game tells a completely different story. “My goal has always been the same. I don’t want this to be something that lingers… we want to make sure that she is 100% ready to go.” With this reasoning, Stephanie White and the Indiana Fever have completely ruled out Caitlin Clark for the game against the Aces.

This will fourth straight game that Caitlin Clark has missed due to a groin injury and her ninth absence overall this season. What remains unclear, though, is the severity. Unlike her previous setback, when she was dealing with a confirmed Grade 2 quad strain, there’s been no official word this time on whether her groin injury is a Grade 1, 2, or something more serious. Which is also something that’s worrying the viewers. However, the Fever’s patient approach is appreciated. A study by the National Library of Medicine on acute adductor (groin) injuries in elite athletes showed that returning within 0–2 months led to an 18% early reinjury rate.

In CC’s absence, the onus of leading the Fever again falls on the capable shoulders of Natasha Howard. Her MVP-worthy performance in the Commissioner’s Cup final has set the bar very high, and the Fever hopes that the victory against the Lynx can act as a springboard for more consistency in the league. Stephanie White revealed that she is over the high of winning the cup, and now the full focus is on the next game. “By the time I got on the plane, I was over it. You have to get ready for the next game. It’s the nature of compartmentalization,” said White. Veteran Syd Colson also pointed out the main issue the Fever’s have had all season: Consistency. It remains to be seen whether the Fever are able to go on a winning run or falter in the absence of their superstar.

How will Indiana fare against the Aces without Caitlin Clark?

The Indiana Fever actually has a solid shot at beating the Las Vegas Aces even without Caitlin Clark. The stats support it. ESPN Analytics gives them a 56.2% chance to win, compared to the Aces’ 43.8%. A lot of that confidence comes from their recent win over the 14-2 Minnesota Lynx, which many are calling their best game this season. Even without Clark running the show, the Fever managed to keep up their defensive pressure and relied on balanced scoring.

The numbers show it: they are averaging 84.1 points per game (to Vegas’ 80.9), shoot 45.0% from the field (compared to the Aces’ 40.8%), and even have slight edges in rebounds (33.7 vs. 33.5) and steals (7.4 vs. 7.1). This isn’t a fluke. They are actually a well-rounded team with Aari McDonald making a significant contribution since re-signing for Indiana. That said, it still won’t be a walk in the park. The Aces may have the same 8-8 record, but they are gathering some steam, winning three of their last four.

A’ja Wilson, the reigning MVP, just dropped 26 points, 18 rebounds, and 7 assists against Phoenix and has scored 20+ in five straight games. She’s a huge problem for any squad’s defense. Jackie Young has also been steady, averaging 18 points and 3.9 assists. But the Fever have their own firepower with Kelsey Mitchell (18.9 PPG) and Aliyah Boston (15.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG), and they seem to have a fire under their belly. If Indiana brings the same energy they had against the Lynx, and finds a way to slow down Wilson like they did to Collier, they could start this homestand with another huge win.