Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever will host the New York Liberty on Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with the Fever entering the game as 2.5-point favorites. The matchup is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off. FanDuel lists Indiana with a -134 moneyline on a 192.5 total.
This season, the two teams have split their previous two meetings, with each team winning on their home court. The Liberty defeated the Fever 83-75 in June, and Indiana secured a decisive 108-88 victory in July. In the Liberty's win, Indiana trailed entering the fourth quarter and was significantly outmatched in free throws, shooting 16 attempts to New York's 40.
Despite playing poorly in that July game, with only 17 points and 7 turnovers, Caitlin Clark has shown marked improvement in the six games since. She is currently averaging 25.0 points on 49.4% field goal shooting, including 43.5% from three-point range, and 9.5 assists per game.
Clark is listed on the injury report as "probable" for Tuesday's game. However, the Fever's strength extends beyond Clark. The team features two other All-Stars: center Aliyah Boston and guard Kelsey Mitchell. Mitchell leads the team in scoring with 24.2 points per game on 50.4% shooting, while Boston, a former No. 1 overall pick, is a four-time WNBA All-Star.
Indiana has won three of its last five games, with its two recent losses coming against the top-ranked Minnesota Lynx and a buzzer-beater overtime defeat to the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. The Liberty, while 7-1 in their last eight games against the Fever, have struggled against the spread, holding a 2-6 record in those matchups. Indiana holds a 10-4 advantage against the spread when enjoying a rest edge this season, while New York is 2-10 ATS when facing a rest disadvantage.
The narrative surrounding the team, including recent on-court incidents and discussions around player commentary, may also be a factor, potentially fostering an "us against the world" mentality within the Fever's locker room. Indiana's head coach, Stephanie White, may leverage this as a motivational tool.