The WNBA stage is set for the next game. With tonight’s game against the Connecticut Sun, the Indiana Fever is looking forward to solidifying their playoff dreams. However, Indiana Fever’s top rookie, Caitlin Clark, recently had an injury scare this week playing against the Atlanta Dream, leaving fans and analysts questioning whether she’d be ready for the game tonight.

Given her important position in the Fever’s lineup, Clark’s obvious discomfort immediately caused alarm. With the recent injury, one question stands out: Will the Fever secure a higher playoff seed with their rookie star’s last scare?

Will the Fever rookie return to play?

In a non-contact play during the Atlanta matchup in State Farm Arena, Clark hurt her left ankle. With just 3:15 left in the first quarter, the 22-year-old was moving in the paint, and when she was right behind Aliyah Boston, she twisted her left ankle. Falling on the hardwood, the rookie didn’t stand up for a while. Seeing this, the team gathered around her followed by the medical staff. As she was helped off the court by the team training staff, it was no less scary for the franchise.

As per the New York Post, after resting for the remainder of the first quarter, she returned to play in the second quarter. In what was a win over the Dream with 84-79, she put up a fantastic performance with 19 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds, demonstrating her remarkable resilience in addition to her skill set.

The Fever are hoping to recover from a run of inconsistent performances. Tonight’s game is critical for their hopes of making the playoffs, with Clark expected to be back in the lineup. However, the Fever injury roster still has Katie Lou-Samuelson, who is a crucial player to their team. With the Fever facing the Sun, the stakes are high as Fever looks to secure a crucial win towards the playoffs.

What to expect tonight?

As the Fever prepares for their matchup against the Sun, Alyssa Thomas, five-time All-Star and last season’s MVP runner-up, is essential to the Sun’s offensive flow and defensive stability. DeWanna Bonner, who can score as well, and Brionna Jones, who is known for her rebounding and interior presence, will be important players in challenging the Fever tonight. As per the ESPN matchup predictor, despite the game being held on the Fever’s home court, the expected win percentage is higher for the Sun.

On the other side, playmaking and lethal three-point shooting are two of Caitlin Clark’s strong suits, so she must perform very well. Clark, alongside her teammate Mitchell’s impressive scoring, contributed significantly from long range. An exhibit of this was seen in a victory over Dream with the rookie scoring 4 3-pointers with 6-14 field goals.

Looking back at some history, the two teams have faced each other for a total of 81 times so far where the Indiana Fever has won 29 times (35.8%) and the Connecticut Sun has won 52 times (64.2%). Additionally, whenever the previous matchups were held at Fever’s home court, the odds for the franchise of winning that game stood at 47.6%.

The addition of Caitlin Clark to the starting lineup tonight is a good sign for the Indiana Fever. Her presence on the court gives the team an advantage against the Connecticut Sun in addition to increasing their offensive potential. The game tonight at Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse will determine whether Clark can win on her home court or not.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for an exciting watch on Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking feat.