Remember how last year the Sun defense ended the Indiana Fever’s season? Connecticut was the more composed, veteran team, and executed like they’d been there a million times. But this year, the script’s flipping fast. While the Sun return with zero starters, the Fever have come back with not one, but two major weapons who used to suit up in Connecticut — DeWanna Bonner and Stephanie White. Yes, the same Bonner who lit it up for the Sun and the same coach who helped build their system. 

And now, it’s round one. The Indiana Fever will try to avoid their third straight loss as they host the winless Connecticut Sun on Friday, May 30. The bad news is..it’s their second game without their superstar rookie Caitlin Clark, who’s out with a quad injury. But don’t worry, we’ve still got plenty to keep an eye on. 

Injuries and predicted starting five

There’s a lot going on with both squads. For the Fever, Caitlin Clark is out with a quad injury and is expected to miss two weeks. For the Sun, things aren’t much better. Marina Mabrey (quad) and Olivia Nelson-Ododa (ankle) are questionable, and Lindsay Allen is out with a hamstring issue. 

Predicted Starting Lineups

Fever:
Aliyah Boston
Kelsey Mitchell
Natasha Howard
Lexie Hull
Sydney Colson

Sun:
Tina Charles
Marina Mabrey
Olivia Nelson-Ododa
Saniya Rivers
Jacy Sheldon

How things look now that Caitlin Clark & Fever are revamped

The Fever have dropped two in a row. The 90-88 heartbreaker against New York and the 83-77 loss to Washington on Wednesday night. But it’s not like they didn’t fight. Without Clark, they just couldn’t get into an offensive groove. They shot under 40% from the field and barely cracked 25% from deep. Still, DeWanna Bonner showed out with 21 off the bench.

It’ll be a full-circle moment for a lot of folks on the Fever. Bonner’s going up against her old squad. She played five seasons with the Sun, made three All-Star teams, and now she’s back in Indiana trying to make her mark all over again  but from the otherside. And she’s not alone. 

Head coach Stephanie White used to run the show in Connecticut too. Now, she’s leading Indiana in her second stint with the Fever, joined by assistants Briann January, Austin Kelly, and player development coach Keith Porter – all familiar faces to the Sun. It’s basically a reunion… just with a lot more at stake.

On the flip side, Connecticut’s still trying to find their footing post-Bonner, post-Alyssa Thomas, and post-identity, really. The defense that once terrorized the league is struggling. Three of their five losses this season have been by 22 points or more. With Chicago finally getting their win, that leaves the Sun as the only winless team right now. 

The only glimmer is Tina Charles is back, and she’s been trying to hold it down. But realistically, on paper, the Fever have the upper hand. They’ve got the talent, the home crowd, and the revenge arc all rolled into one.