Fever vs – Caitlin Clark will miss Saturday’s Fever game against the Los Angeles Sparks at 7 p.m. CT after leaving the previous matchup with a back issue. Indiana comes off a 111-109 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on June 24 and will look for its second win of the season wi
By the time the Fever trailed by just two in the third quarter, Caitlin Clark was already walking toward the end of the night.
Clark exited Indiana’s 111-109 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on June 24 with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter, dealing with a back issue. She did not return.
Indiana’s situation became even tighter after a late scramble for a loose ball turned into a moment of contention: earlier in that game. Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas was scrutinized for pushing down on Clark’s neck with her fist while competing for the ball. The WNBA later suspended Alyssa Thomas after the incident with Caitlin Clark.
Saturday brings Indiana a chance to reset—secure its second win against the Los Angeles Sparks this season—but it will do so without Clark.
Fever coach Stephanie White told reporters on Friday, June 26, that Clark will miss Saturday’s game due to a back injury. It’s the second time Clark has been sidelined this season.
Clark sat out Indiana’s May 20 win over Portland with a back injury, and she has been seen using a heat pad on the bench while getting mid-game adjustments throughout the season. After the May 9 opener, Clark said her back “gets out of line pretty quickly.”
The absence also lands in a season already shaped by injuries. Clark played only 13 games in 2025, missing time with a left quad, left groin, right groin, and ankle issues.
With Clark expected to be out again, Indianapolis native Tyasha Harris is expected to start in her place.
How to watch Fever vs. Sparks
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, June 27. Fans can watch the game on CBS or KCCI in central Iowa, or stream it on Paramount+.
For those with WNBA League Pass, the replay is set for 5 a.m. Sunday on Paramount+.
What the Sparks are walking into
The Los Angeles Sparks enter with a different kind of pressure. They are coming off a 125-97 loss to the Toronto Tempo on June 25, a game in which Marina Mabrey tied the WNBA’s single-game scoring record with 53 points.
Kelsey Plum leads the Sparks with 23.9 points and 6.4 assists per game, but she has missed five games this season. She is expected to be out for four weeks with a left leg injury.
Nneka Ogwumike is averaging 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds for the Sparks.
Clark’s next window—and what comes after Saturday
While it’s not known how soon Clark will return, the Fever’s next five games after Saturday begin immediately:
July 5 at Las Vegas Aces, 6 p.m. CT, ESPN, Disney+
July 8 at Los Angeles Sparks, 9 p.m. CT, USA Network, WOI-Local 5 and WQAD
July 9 at Phoenix Mercury, 9 p.m. CT, Prime Video, WOI-Local 5 and WQAD
July 12 at Las Vegas Aces, 8 p.m. CT, NBC/Peacock
July 15 vs Golden State Valkyries, 7 p.m. CT, USA Network, CW Iowa 23.
Clark’s 2026 regular-season production
Caitlin Clark’s 2026 regular-season numbers (17 games) are listed as:
Points: 21.2
Assists: 8.2
Rebounds: 4.0
Steals: 0.8
Blocks: 0.6
Turnovers: 4.7
FG%: 43%
3-point %: 33.4%
Free throw %: 85.4%
MVP and championship odds
Clark is third in the 2026 WNBA MVP race as of the afternoon of June 26, trailing A’ja Wilson and Paige Bueckers according to most sportsbooks.
Indiana’s title odds as of 12 p.m. on June 26 are:
BetMGM: +1350 (sixth behind Dallas)
DraftKings: +1700 (seventh behind Golden State)
FanDuel: +200 (seventh behind Golden State)
The stakes for Saturday are straightforward: Indiana wants the second win it’s targeting this season against the Sparks, even as Clark’s back injury keeps her out again. For a team already navigating absences, the question isn’t just whether the Fever can compete.
It’s how they look when the game starts without the player who has to be accounted for on every possession.
Fever vs Sparks Caitlin Clark injury Indiana Fever Tyasha Harris starts Alyssa Thomas suspension WNBA League Pass Paramount+ WNBA June 27 2026
Back issue again?? Ugh
So Caitlin’s out with a back injury… but the whole Mercury thing w the neck pushing got suspended?? Idk man, feels like it’s always something. Hope she’s alright though.
Wait I’m confused, didn’t she get out of the game already with like 5 minutes left? And then they said the other player pushed her neck with a fist but it was “scramble for a loose ball”?? Like what are we calling it, fighting or basketball lol. Also Fever better not fall apart without her.
Everyone’s focused on Clark’s back but meanwhile that 111-109 score… like how does a team blow it down the stretch by 2 and then we’re like “chance to reset” 😂. I swear WNBA injuries are just like NBA now, always something, heat pad, mid-game adjustments, out twice already. I just think if she’s “out of line pretty quickly” maybe she should’ve rested more earlier, idk.