Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever take on the New York Liberty. Our WNBA odds series has our Fever Liberty prediction, odds, and pick. Find out how to watch Fever Liberty.
The Caitlin Clark story is just beginning. If anyone thought it would be smooth sailing, the first two regular-season games for the Iowa Hawkeye legend have been a reality check. It doesn't mean Clark won't be a great WNBA player; it merely means that Clark is no longer on a team which stands at the forefront of her sport. At Iowa, Clark was surrounded by elite teammates who were able to carry out their roles extremely well. Clark needed help against UConn in a Final Four national semifinal. She needed her team to play strong defense in a tough, rugged second-round NCAA Tournament win over West Virginia. Her Iowa teammates were up to the task of making a very deep postseason run, making Iowa the second-best team in women's college basketball in consecutive seasons, a phenomenal accomplishment.
In the WNBA, the Indiana Fever just don't have the horses. Not yet. Not now. Aliyah Boston has struggled as one of the bigger-name members of the Fever's roster. There have already been plenty of comments about the way the Fever are coached. Questions abound about whether the system is fitting the skill sets of the players, or if the approach is a top-down philosophy in which the coach, Christie Sides, is imposing her structure on Clark and everyone else.
Two blowout losses have left the Fever dazed and confused. The losing isn't the problem; the decisiveness of the losses is the true problem. The Fever have faded away in the fourth quarters of each of their first two games. They were outscored by 13 in the fourth quarter against the Connecticut Sun in their season opener. They were outscored by 25 points by the New York Liberty on Thursday at home. The total score of the Fever's first two fourth quarters this year — versus the Sun and the Liberty — is brutal for Indiana: 62-24 for the opposing teams. A minus-38 point differential in two fourth quarters points to a team which doesn't trust itself and is not getting good coaching adjustments. This is not a Caitlin Clark problem; it's a roster-and-coaching problem. We will see if the Fever can regroup and make significant changes in how they go about their business.
Here are the Fever-Liberty WNBA Odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
WNBA Odds: Fever-Liberty Odds
Indiana Fever: +14 (-112)
New York Liberty: -14 (-108)
Over: 169 (-110)
Under: 169 (-110)
How to Watch Caitlin Clark, Fever vs. Liberty
TV: ABC
Stream: ESPN Plus, Disney Plus
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT
*Watch WNBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*
Why The Fever Could Cover The Spread
Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston have not been particularly good so far this season, but after an embarrassing 36-point loss to the Liberty on Thursday, they and the rest of the Fever will be highly motivated to play a lot better. This is a grow-up moment for a young team dealing with early-season adversity. It's much too soon in the season for this team to not fight. Expect this team to battle with a level of consistency which will enable it to cover the spread.
Why The Liberty Could Cover The Spread
The Liberty beat the Fever 102-66 two days ago. They could win by 21 fewer points in this game (15 as opposed to 36) and still cover.
Final Fever-Liberty Prediction & Pick
The Liberty beat the Fever by 36 points on Thursday. They will be at least 15 points better here. Take New York.
Final Fever-Liberty Prediction & Pick: Liberty -14
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