In Baltimore, one of the key strengths of Indiana’s offense—and a major reason the Fever are tough to defend—is their fast-paced style of play. They excel in transition, capitalizing on simple baskets before defenses are set. Indiana has scored 49 transition points, averaging 12.25 per game, which was effective in their first four contests.
However, on Wednesday, that crucial aspect completely disappeared. The Fever were missing their point guard and primary playmaker, Katelyn Linklark, who drives the pace and facilitates those transition opportunities. She is sidelined with a quad injury and won’t be reevaluated until at least June 9th.
This absence seemed to play a significant role in the Fever’s 83-77 loss to the Mystics, who scored 10 transition points in the game. “Katelyn is excellent at finding rim runners and pushing the ball up the floor, something we need to improve,” said Fever head coach Stephanie White. “We don’t depend much on dribble handoffs or ball screens.”
Without Linklark, the Fever’s offense appeared to lose its rhythm. The quick tempo set by elite playmaker Caitlin Clark and her sharp three-point shooting was missing. The slower pace allowed the Mystics’ defense to better settle in, with Natasha Howard and DeWanna Bonner being the only Fever players to hit multiple field goals in the first half. “We got punched in the mouth early,” said Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell.
Injuries also plagued the Fever. Indiana conceded 12 offensive rebounds to Washington, giving them six extra shot attempts. The Mystics shot 43.5% from the field (compared to Indiana’s 39.5%) and were 19-for-25 at the free-throw line. Coach White noted, “It was about attention to detail—knowing personnel and defensive schemes. Many breakdowns were simply from not knowing who to guard. We weren’t sharp and that cost us tonight.”
Three key takeaways: DeWanna Bonner performed well, but the Fever struggled to adjust without Caitlin Clark. Sidney Colson started at point guard in place of Clark and, while she has a different style focusing more on playmaking than scoring, she managed just four points along with three rebounds and three assists. The team had to completely change its offensive approach without Clark’s unique ability to score, facilitate, push the pace, and generate high-percentage shots.
Fever center Aliyah Boston, who typically scores efficiently and averages double-digit shots, didn’t get many looks. She had only one shot in the first half (which she made) and finished four of five overall. Clark’s absence was felt particularly in pick-and-roll situations that normally create easy scoring chances for Boston. “Boston’s touches often come from two-player plays when Caitlin is on the court. Without her, things look different,” White explained. “The defense matched up aggressively, forcing Boston to adjust constantly.”
Looking ahead, Clark’s recovery and rehab will be crucial for the team’s next three games. Fortunately, the Fever are facing teams with struggling records: Connecticut (0-5), Washington (3-3), and Chicago (0-4). These games present a chance for Indiana to regroup and learn how to execute offensively without their star. Sophie Cunningham expressed determination, “This loss was tough, but we’re going back to practice with more focus and energy. We want to be there at the end of the season—it’s a grind, and that’s where we are now.”
This piece was originally published in the Indianapolis Star: Explaining the Indiana Fever Issue Without Katelyn Linklark.
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Fan Take: The absence of Katelyn Linklark highlights how critical individual playmakers like her and Caitlin Clark are to a team’s identity and success in the WNBA. For fans, this underscores the importance of depth and adaptability on rosters, which could influence how teams build for sustained competitiveness in the league.
