Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston sustain injury concerns as Fever suffers significant defeat against Liberty.

The Indiana Fever couldn’t finish their grueling 11-game, 20-day opening stretch of the 2024 season without setbacks. During their 104-68 loss to the New York Liberty on Sunday, both Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, former No. 1 picks, left the game in the fourth quarter. Clark had an issue with her ear, while Boston hurt her ankle. Coach Christie Sides didn’t have immediate updates after the game, as the athletic trainer was still evaluating them. Despite the defeat, Kelsey Mitchell, the top scorer with 21 points, remained upbeat, clarifying that the ice on her ankle was just precautionary. Mitchell and NaLyssa Smith joked about looking forward to some rest over the next few days, as the team hadn’t had much downtime lately.

The Fever faced a tough schedule, playing last year’s WNBA runner-up, the Liberty, for the third time, with two-thirds of the encounters in New York. The frequent games have limited practice time, which has been challenging for the team. Coach Sides acknowledged the difficulty of the matchup, especially on a back-to-back, emphasizing the Liberty’s strength. Despite a brief resurgence in the third quarter, the Fever couldn’t maintain momentum, with the Liberty dominating.

In the fourth quarter, Boston injured her ankle, while Clark also had to leave briefly for assessment. The rookies, Celeste Taylor and Victaria Saxton, had limited playing time, while Smith and Mitchell logged significant minutes. Clark struggled with her shooting, recording a career-low three points. Despite the challenges, Sides praised the team’s determination to keep fighting until the end.