The Indiana Fever are set to host the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday, July 5th, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Fever enter the game with a 9-8 record, while the Sparks are struggling at 5-13.

Injury Report:

The biggest injury concern for the Fever is the continued absence of Caitlin Clark, who will miss her fifth consecutive game due to a left groin injury. Coach Stephanie White stated that the team is being cautious with her recovery to prevent any lingering issues. Damiris Dantas is also out due to FIBA AmeriCup commitments. The Sparks will be without Rae Burrell and Cameron Brink due to leg and knee injuries, respectively. Odyssey Sims is also likely out. However, Kelsey Plum, who has been managing an injury, is expected to play.

Projected Starting Lineups:

• Indiana Fever: Aari McDonald, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, Natasha Howard, and Aliyah Boston.
• Los Angeles Sparks: Kelsey Plum, Shey Peddy, Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby, and Azura Stevens.

Recent Form:

The Indiana Fever are on a three-game winning streak and have won 4 of their last 5 games. They are coming off a dominant 81-54 victory against the Las Vegas Aces. The Los Angeles Sparks, on the other hand, have lost six of their last seven games and are struggling to find consistency.

Key Stats & Analysis:

• The Fever have the third-ranked defense in the WNBA, allowing just 78.5 points per game. In their last three games, they have allowed only 66.3 points.
• The Sparks have one of the worst defenses in the league, giving up around 86.8 points per game.
• Indiana's offense is averaging 83.9 points per game, while the Sparks are averaging 81.6 points per game.
• Kelsey Mitchell is leading the Fever in scoring with 19.3 points per game.
• Kelsey Plum leads the Sparks in scoring with 20.1 points per game.
• Aliyah Boston is the Fever's leading rebounder, averaging 8.1 rebounds per game.
• Azura Stevens is the Sparks' leading rebounder, averaging 8.3 rebounds per game.
• The Fever have a strong home record of 5-4.

Prediction:

The Indiana Fever are heavy favorites heading into this matchup. Despite Caitlin Clark's absence, the Fever have been playing well as a team, with Kelsey Mitchell stepping up as a primary scorer. Their defense has been particularly impressive, limiting opponents to low scores. The Sparks, on the other hand, are struggling on both ends of the court and will be without key players due to injury. Considering the Fever's recent form, defensive strength, and home-court advantage, they are likely to win this game comfortably.

Score Prediction: Indiana Fever 88, Los Angeles Sparks 78. The Fever are also predicted to cover the spread of -5.5, and the total points scored are expected to be over 163.5.