The Fever have never beaten the Las Vegas Aces since Caitlin Clark came on board. But could Sunday be the day that changes everything? Because the Aces haven’t exactly looked like the back-to-back champs this season. They’re sitting at 5-7, and things are… shaky. Meanwhile, Indiana looked like they were on a roll without DeWanna Bonner. Two big wins had fans hyped until they ran into the Golden State Valkyries and got a cold slap of reality.

The Indy team came into 2025 with some serious dreams of winning it all. But the season hasn’t quite matched the hype so far. Sitting at 6-6, Indiana’s been hovering right around .500, which, sure, is fine for most teams. But not for a team with this much talent and a flagship player like CC. And definitely not when you’re losing to an expansion team. So as they head to Vegas tonight, there’s a lot on the line. It’s a shot at flipping the narrative that’s been stuck on repeat since last year.

DeWanna Bonner’s availability

DeWanna Bonner is still away from the team, and it looks like she’ll be out for a while. Coach Stephanie White made it clear: there’s “no timeline” for her return. “She’s doing well, she’s doing well,” White said on Saturday. “Again, no timeline. I think it’s day-to-day, and for us to make sure that we’re continuing to be supportive of DB in her time away.” And not just DeWanna’s injury, but there’s a bigger issue looming over Coach White’s plans.

If Bonner stays out and backup center Damiris Dantas heads off for the FIBA AmeriCup (which she will, once this road trip wraps up in Seattle), Indiana might be down to just nine active players. That includes the Commissioner’s Cup final, too. So things could get real thin, real fast. In that case, Indiana might go for an emergency hardship signing.

As for the Aces, Megan Gustafson and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus are both listed as “OUT” tonight. Here’s the predicted line-up for both teams.

Will Caitlin Clark finally crack the Aces’ code?

Last year’s 20-20 record is the benchmark, and another .500 year would be displeasing. But they’ve got a huge Commissioner’s Cup showdown with the Lynx coming up. That could change the momentum. However, before that, tonight’s game is a different kind of test. Last season, it was 0-4 vs Aces for Indiana. This season, they’re yet to face them. That too, after a loss.

The game against Golden State was brutal. The Fever had a solid lead until midway through the third quarter, and then came the hammer in the final quarter by the Valkyries. The final score was 77-88. Aliyah Boston did her thing with 17 points and 12 boards, but Caitlin Clark had her worst shooting night of the season – just 3-for-14 from the field and shocking 0-7 from the three-point line. Coach Natalie Nakase had her defense locked in, and Indiana had no answers. So here we are. 

And still, the Fever haven’t won three straight all season. They’ve had flashes of greatness, but the consistency is not there yet. A win against A’ja Wilson’s Aces might give them a boost, and things are in their favor. Because on paper, they’re just one game behind the Aces. But when you really break it down, Indiana ranks fourth in offensive and third in defensive rating. Vegas is ninth in both. Big difference. So, if there was ever a time for Indiana to finally beat the Aces and send a message? It’s now. So, naturally, we’re betting on Fever to take this home.