Candace Parker Takes Stance on Indiana Fever Being ‘Better’ Without Caitlin Clark originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Indiana Fever have a 17-13 record during the 2025 WNBA season after Tuesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. The 100-91 defeat was their first loss since July 22, as it snapped a five-game winning streak.
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Tuesday marked the 17th game of the season that star second-year guard Caitlin Clark has missed. She is averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds this year, but has only played in 13 contests for the Fever.
With Indiana sitting in fifth place in the WNBA standings, they are comfortably in the playoff race. However, with 14 contests left in the season, they are just 1.5 games back from having home-court advantage in the first round of the postseason.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) and forward Aliyah Boston (7).© Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
WNBA Legend Candace Parker Takes Stance on Indiana Fever Without Caitlin Clark
Legendary WNBA player Candace Parker and All-Star Fever forward Aliyah Boston recently started a podcast together called “Post Moves.” On their most recent episode, they discussed the prolonged absence of Clark.
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Parker was quick to point out that Indiana was performing well without their two-time All-Star point guard, but she also took a strong stance about whether the Fever are better with her on the court or not.
“You guys are on a streak, and you’re doing such without Caitlin Clark, let’s be honest,” Parker said to Boston. “For those naysayers out there that are like, ‘You’re better without Caitlin,’ they’re not. They’re not better without Caitlin. But, I do feel like, times like this, different people step up.”
Are Fever Better Without Caitlin Clark?
Clark has played in 13 games for the Fever this season, and they are 8-5 with her in the lineup. Without her, the team is just slightly above .500 with a record of 9-8. The average scoring margin drops from +6.3 to only +0.9 without Clark on the floor for Indiana.
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Indiana also averages 87.8 points per game with Clark in the game, which would be the highest mark in the WNBA. Without her, that average drops to 83.3 points per contest, which would only be seventh in the league.
Even the Fever’s defense is better with Clark on the floor, as they relinquished 81.5 points per game in 13 games with her, and 82.4 in games without her. The statistics would indicate that, while Indiana has performed well without Clark, they are not necessarily better.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
