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Impact of Caitlin Clark's Injury on the WNBA Season
SportsGrid
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5/28/2025
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00:00
to the very beginnings of a WNBA season. Our coach, J.Y. James Young, is here to end out our three
00:06
hours on this Wednesday on TEL. Of course, J.Y., over the long holiday weekend, some big injury
00:12
news hit the WNBA. Kaitlin Clark, they left quad strain out for a minimum of two weeks for the
00:19
Indiana Fever. She will be re-evaluated at that point. It could be a significant amount of time
00:25
missed for Clark early on in her second WNBA season. Of course, there are many different
00:31
ramifications for what this means for the league, for the Fever, all of that good stuff. From a
00:36
basketball and coaching perspective, J.Y., how does this impact the way the Fever want to play?
00:43
Tremendously. They have to play slower because not only is she their leading scorer, but her usage
00:50
rate, Ben, and how much she has a ball in her hands or her creativity, you don't have that other kind
00:54
of true point guard on the roster. So if you take a look, for instance, tonight, their over-under
01:00
versus the Mystics is like 163. Their total versus the Liberty game last week was like 170-something.
01:08
So it's already down 10, 12 points for one game. So here's the crazy thing. I think you still look
01:13
under in the game. I think you have to walk the ball up the floor. I think you have to get into
01:17
offense a little bit slower. And a team in the Mystics that have gone under this number three straight
01:22
times. Take a look at under 163. Now, who is the benefit in regards to a player? It's Kelsey
01:28
Mitchell, right? People got to remember, folks, Kelsey Mitchell has scored at least 17 and a half
01:33
points per game since 2020. She was absolutely electric the second half of the year. She is a
01:39
shot maker and a shot taker. I don't trust Lexi Hall even though she's got in the starting spot.
01:43
Dewana Bonner has not been good. Natasha Howard's been up and down. I wouldn't go to a Leo Boston
01:48
go to Leo Boston because she relies on that pick and roll, Ben, pick and pop with Kaitlin
01:52
Clark. It's right at Kelsey Mitchell. Kelsey Mitchell over 20 and a half points tonight
01:58
versus the Washington Mystics.
02:01
15 plus for Mitchell in all four games this year for the Fever, but only over 20 and a half
02:06
with 24 in game number two of the year against the Atlanta Dream. The Fever off to a two and two
02:12
start. And of course, JY, this is why the roster was built up in Indianapolis around Kaitlin Clark
02:17
to be able to sustain potentially this, but also be a true WNBA title contender. As we go big
02:24
picture, look at the Fever's price now to win a championship. It is plus 430 entering the weekend
02:31
in that marquee matchup on Saturday afternoon against the reigning champs in the Liberty, who
02:35
we will discuss in just a matter of moments. That was a plus 350 price on Indiana. It is moved back
02:41
by nearly a buck. Big picture here. If Kaitlin Clark is out for multiple weeks for the Fever,
02:49
does it change your outlook on Indiana in terms of being that true contender?
02:53
No, I just got to see when she gets back. I mean, I still think at the end of the day,
02:57
they're maybe now a top, you know, five, they're definitely a top half of the league, right?
03:01
They're definitely now top six. They still have enough with Mitchell and Hull and Boston and
03:06
Cunningham and Bonner. Obviously, we need Duana Bonner to play more like the back of her basketball
03:11
card because she has not been good. But I still think they're a top five, top six team. What it
03:17
just does is it just opens up the fact that the New York Liberty, who's playing really well,
03:21
they're the best team in the Eastern Conference. And now it's probably by a wide margin and they'll
03:25
open up that lead.
03:26
The WNBA finals matchup last year, the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx, who are our two
03:32
remaining undefeated teams in the W. Minnesota off to a perfect 5-0 start, although it was her
03:38
first game not recording 23 points yesterday. Nafisa Collier still a double-double. Minnesota did
03:44
win by five at home against the Seattle Storm. Seattle did cover, but still a perfect 5-0 start for
03:50
the Lynx and the reigning champs in the New York Liberty. Nearly a 30-point win against the Golden State
03:55
Valkyries yesterday. They are also off to an undefeated start at a perfect 4-0. J.Y.,
04:02
how do you evaluate the very top of the table in the WNBA?
04:06
Exactly what I thought it was going to be, where we're lining ourselves up for a rematch.
04:09
You know, having all five starters back for the Minnesota Lynx and arguably the best coach
04:13
in the WNBA in Cheryl Reap. New York, yeah, no Benazza, Laney, Hamilton. By getting Marina
04:18
Johannes back from France. Natasha Cloud in the trade, the shrewdest off-season move out of any team
04:23
in the W. She's been fantastic with that lineup. Ben, we are on a collision course for a rematch.
04:30
I don't trust Vegas. I think they missed Kelsey Plum and their bigs more than people think. I don't
04:35
know if that gray backcourt with Jackie Young and obviously Jewel Ward's going to work too little
04:41
size. It's Minnesota, New York on a collision course. Don't touch Ficha now at minus 210. Let
04:47
Kaitlyn Clark come back. Maybe she goes on a run. She drops down. Then jump on Ficha. You've missed
04:52
your mark. It may come back again. Big Feast. Nafisa Collier now the favorite at greater than a
04:57
$2 price. Minus 210 to win the WNBA MVP. Kaitlyn Clark was the favorite entering this past weekend.
05:05
JY, a fadeaway to tomorrow and a Thursday on the early line. We appreciate your time as always here on
05:12
T-E-L. That does it for us today. Show returns tomorrow, 8 a.m. Eastern time.
05:17
You're on Sportsman.
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