BROOKLYN – There was a simple reason why Fever coach Christie Sides put star players and No. 1 seed Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark in a 30-point game in the fourth quarter: They wanted to compete.
“They wanted to fight,” Sides said. “They wanted to get into a game and try to make up for it – try to make the game closer than it was. They also have pride. They wanted to get in there and keep fighting.”
“I just want to sleep in.” After eleven games in twenty brutal days, Fever need a reset
Unfortunately for the Fever, that resulted in injuries for both players.
Clark checked in at 7:54 of the fourth quarter, when the Fever trailed by 30 points, 84-54. She was only inside for about a minute before she was hit in the ear on a screen. She checked out with 6:29 left and retreated to the locker room for a moment. She returned to the bench with about two minutes left but did not re-enter the game.
Boston got into the game around the seven minute mark and they stayed in the game for about a minute and a half until there was 5:33 left in the game. While wrestling with Liberty back forward Leonie Fiebich, Boston fell over her and immediately began grabbing her ankle.
After lying on the ground for a short time, Boston got up and began limping to the locker room under her own power. She spoke with Fever athletic trainer Todd Champlin before going to the locker room, and she did not return.
The Fever would go on to lose to the New York Liberty at Barclays Center, 104-68, to fall to 2-9 on the season. Sides had no concrete updates on Boston and Clark after the game.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to Todd yet, he was still evaluating them when I went back there,” Sides said. “It was Aliyah with an ankle, Caitlin with an ear, that’s all. I don’t know anything else.’
Boston and Clark will have plenty of time to rest, however, as the Fever don’t play again until Friday against the Mystics.
Follow IndyStar Fever Insider Chloe Peterson on X at @chloepeterson67.
This article originally appeared on the Indianapolis Star: Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston are hurt late in loss to Liberty
