The Indiana Fever have just one contest left in what is a grueling five-game road trip in eight days. They face the Chicago Sky in Chicago, in the second tilt of a back-to-back after losing to the New York Liberty in Brooklyn.
The Fever won the first two games in Atlanta against the Dream and in Toronto versus the Tempo before losing in Dallas to the Wings and then to the Liberty. And in order to salvage a winning record on the trip, they’ll have to do so without star center Aliyah Boston.
Boston was listed as questionable for the game against New York due to the lower right leg injury she has been managing all season, so it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that she is not able go in the showdown with the Sky 24 hours after logging 30 minutes.
Caitlin Clark is listed as probable (back), but that has been the case for the majority of the year and she has ultimately been active when having that designation.
If the schedule circumstances weren’t challenging enough, the loss of Boston is a big blow. That’s because Indiana doesn’t have anyone to replace her production in the front court, particularly offensively.
Makayla Timpson has thrived in the starting lineup, but that has been next to Boston. Monique Billings struggled for much of the season in that power forward spot before being moved to the backup center position. The Fever will need some contributions from her in order to best a Sky team that has turned things around of late. Chicago is winners of three straight, the last one coming on a Sydney Taylor game-winner versus the Golden State Valkyries.
Chicago starts Kamilla Cardoso in the middle, so look for Indiana to attempt to counter her size with speed, should their legs allow it.
Myisha Hines-Allen is questionable for the Fever due to a shoulder injury she suffered against the Liberty, so the frontcourt could be even thinner than normal. Meanwhile, DiJonai Carrington, who made news the last time these two played for her flagrant foul on Sophie Cunningham and subsequent ejection, is also questionable. Though Sky coach Tyler Marsh said he hopes to have her available.
A challenging task just got taller for the Fever. But a win in Chicago would turn the rough trip into a successful one.
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