Indiana Fever Look Absolutely Lost Without Caitlin Clark as New York Liberty Deliver Devastating Blow

In a brutal reminder of Caitlin Clark’s immense impact on the Indiana Fever, the team was thoroughly dismantled by the New York Liberty, falling 98-77 in a game that felt even more lopsided than the score suggests. The absence of Clark, the rookie phenom and offensive engine of the Fever, exposed just how disjointed and directionless Indiana is without her on the floor.

For days, certain voices in the media pushed a baffling narrative—that the Fever might actually be “more dangerous” without Caitlin Clark. But Thursday night’s blowout loss made one thing painfully clear: that take couldn’t be further from the truth. The Fever didn’t just lose—they looked lost, confused, and out of sync from start to finish.

The Liberty took control early, raining down threes and slicing through Indiana’s interior defense like it didn’t exist. Brianna Stewart led the way with a dominant all-around performance: 24 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 blocks. She was well on her way to a triple-double before being subbed out. Sabrina Ionescu added 15 points and 9 assists, while Marine Johannès was nearly perfect from deep, going 4-for-5. Even the Liberty’s bench got in on the act, with Kennedy Burke shooting a flawless 2-for-2 from three-point range.

By halftime, the writing was on the wall. New York had already built an insurmountable lead, and Indiana showed no signs of life. The offense was stagnant. The defense was nonexistent. And the energy? Completely absent.

“It looked like these players had never played together before,” one frustrated commentator remarked. “They didn’t know whose turn it was, where to go, or what the plan was. There was no plan.”

Indiana’s offensive production was erratic and uninspired. Kelsey Mitchell had a strong start with 13 points in the first half, but she virtually disappeared in the second, finishing with 16 points. Sophie Cunningham contributed 12 points, but her 2-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc highlighted the team’s overall struggles from deep. They shot just 25% from three, compared to Liberty’s blistering 52%.

Aaliyah Boston, the reigning Rookie of the Year, had one of her worst outings of the season—scoring only seven points on 1-for-8 shooting. For a player expected to step up in Clark’s absence, it was a glaring letdown. “No call, no show,” said one commentator. “We needed AB to be a force inside, but she just wasn’t there tonight.”

Natasha Howard, who had previously shown promise when Clark sat out, played only 16 minutes and finished with 8 points and 2 turnovers. Meanwhile, the rotations seemed puzzling at best. Michaela Timpson, despite scoring 8 points in just 11 minutes and recording a nice block, didn’t even play in the first half. Sydney Colson logged 24 minutes without scoring a single point and committed 2 turnovers.

The only real sign of life came from Dearica Hamby and Lexie Hull, though even their efforts felt like small sparks in a game dominated by Liberty firepower. Hull, recently removed from the starting lineup, posted 5 points and 7 rebounds off the bench. But it wasn’t nearly enough.

Critics turned their attention to coach Stephanie White, whose decisions—from bizarre substitution patterns to the lack of offensive identity—only added to the chaos. “When Caitlin Clark’s healthy, at least we have a plan: give her the ball, let her run the show,” a fan lamented. “Without her, this team has no direction.”

To make matters worse, the Fever allowed the Liberty to build a lead as large as 27 points, prompting fans and analysts alike to question the locker room’s morale and readiness. The team’s interior defense was described as “a bunch of matadors” allowing free drives to the paint, and their lack of ball movement and creativity was stark.

The contrast between this loss and Indiana’s earlier win over the Liberty—with Clark on the floor—was glaring. In that game, Indiana scored 102 points and looked cohesive and confident. This time, it was the complete opposite.

As the All-Star break arrives, it couldn’t have come at a better time for Indiana. The Fever are in desperate need of a reset, a regrouping, and most importantly—Caitlin Clark. Without her, they’re not just a different team. They’re a lost one.