Caitlin Clark’s Absence Sinks Indiana Fever in Worst Loss of WNBA Season

The Indiana Fever took a beating Wednesday night, falling 83-77 to the Washington Mystics in a game that screamed one thing loud and clear: Caitlin Clark is the heartbeat of this team. Sidelined by a quad injury, the WNBA’s rising star watched her squad crumble in her first missed game of the season, exposing just how much they lean on her electrifying presence.

The Fever started strong, jumping to a 10-4 lead and even holding a five-point edge in the second quarter. But the wheels fell off fast. From late in the second to the final minutes, the Mystics ran circles around Indiana, outscoring them 46-32 in a critical stretch. Washington’s 11-point lead felt like a chasm, and despite a late seven-point flurry from the Fever, the game was long decided.

This wasn’t just a loss—it was a wake-up call. Indiana’s 77 points marked their lowest output this season, a far cry from their earlier games where they averaged a robust 88 points. Without Clark’s playmaking, the Fever managed just 15 assists as a team, a stark contrast to her record-setting 19-assist performance last July. Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell tried to fill the void, each dishing out four assists, but it wasn’t enough. DeWanna Bonner led the Mystics’ charge with 21 points off the bench, proving too much for Indiana’s depleted roster.

Clark, the former Iowa Hawkeye phenom, has been a force in her first four games of 2025, averaging 19.0 points, 9.3 assists, and 6.0 rebounds. Her absence—expected to last at least two weeks—leaves a gaping hole. The Fever’s previous losses were nail-biters, dropping by a combined three points. This time? A humbling six-point defeat that felt much worse.

The Fever’s early season spark (+37 point differential in their first four games) fizzled without Clark’s magic. Her absence isn’t just a roster issue; it’s a reminder of her MVP-caliber impact. As Indiana limps forward, the question looms: can they hold the fort until their star returns?