​The Fever’s record and statistics in the absence of Caitlin Clark have become increasingly hard to overlook, a point highlighted in a feature originally published by The Sporting News with a note to add The Sporting News as a preferred source. In 2025, Indiana learned to function effectively without Clark, and by 2026 they had refined how they operate when she isn’t on the floor, a trend that was evident again Thursday night against the Phoenix Mercury. The narrative gaining traction is that Clark’s presence or absence creates a striking disparity in the team’s performance.
Clark returned from a two-game layoff on Wednesday, dealing with a lingering back issue. Even on a restricted minutes load in Los Angeles, she shot poorly, missing eight of her 12 attempts, and logged roughly a turnover every four minutes during a 106-92 loss to the Sparks. The following night, with Clark sitting out on the back end of a back-to-back, Indiana trimmed their turnovers by nearly 40 percent, shot 50 percent from the field, and edged the Mercury 92-89 in a game played against a rested opponent.
The contrast between Clark’s 2026 presence and absence has grown so pronounced that it is difficult to dismiss: the Fever are 4-0 this season when Clark does not play and 9-9 when she does. Yet their top-ranked offense remains efficient even without the three-time All-Star in the lineup. Indiana has conceded 100 points or more in eight games this season, a mark that would tie the league record if reached again, and every instance of reaching that threshold has occurred while Clark was on the floor.
Turnover discipline also reflects the Clark dynamic. The Fever rank 13th among 15 teams, averaging 14.6 turnovers per game, with Clark leading the WNBA in total turnovers. However, in Clark’s absence with Ty Harris starting at point guard, Indiana averages fewer than 11 turnovers per game. Those extra possessions matter; Clark’s 32.5 percent usage rate sits in the 99th percentile among WNBA players, yet she tends to generate a higher rate of turnovers than Harris.
The debate that the Fever’s success without Clark is merely a coincidence, or that Indiana is definitively better with her, faced a real test last fall. Clark missed nearly the entire 2025 season due to a series of soft-tissue injuries, playing only 13 games. The Fever weathered that loss by leaning on the brilliance of Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, and still came within a single game of reaching the WNBA Finals. This demonstrates that while Clark is among the league’s most exciting talents—drawing new fans and driving interest—Indiana is more than a one-player team.
Individually, Clark is difficult to overlook: she regularly delivers 20-plus points and close to 10 assists on most nights, blending elite passing vision with deep shooting range that few can rival. Still, the Fever’s trajectory indicates they have depth and resilience beyond Clark’s contributions, underscoring a broader identity for Indiana that could endure beyond any single star. If Clark signs a maximum contract extension with the Fever next season, which could approach $1.3 million per year, the scope of the team’s evolution would have additional considerations tied to the salary cap, but the core takeaway remains clear: Indiana has shown it can compete at a high level with or without its marquee player, and that adaptability may prove to be one of the franchise’s defining strengths.