Indiana
Fever need to dig deep to beat last-place Sun, then suffer apparent Caitlin Clark injury setback
Stephanie White addresses fresh Caitlin Clark injury concern
The Fever star guard left Tuesday’s win over Connecticut in the final minute.
BOSTON — The Indiana Fever recorded an 85-77 win over Connecticut at TD Garden on Tuesday night, but concerns swirled for Fever star Caitlin Clark’s health after she left the game late.
Indiana moved to 12-10 with the win, and play in less than 24 hours against New York in Brooklyn on Wednesday night.
Here are three observations:
Caitlin Clark winces, holds back tears as she leaves game
Caitlin Clark left Indiana’s game late in the fourth quarter after wincing and grabbing the top of her right leg.
With 39 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Clark checked out of the game after an assist to Kelsey Mitchell. She went to turn around on defense and grabbed near her groin on her right leg.
Clark has already had a groin injury this season, but that was on her left leg. She also had a left quad injury, and those two injuries kept her out for 10 total games so far this season.
Clark seemed to be tearing up on the sideline in the final seconds of the game, and she sat on the bench with a towel over her head as the Fever closed out the win.
“No update, just felt a little something in her groin, so we’ll get it evaluated and see what happens from there,” Fever coach Stephanie White said postgame.
Indiana allows Connecticut to stay close entire game
Indiana came into the game at 11-10, and Connecticut was 3-18. On paper, it seemed like Indiana should come away with an easy win.
But things aren’t as easy as they look. Especially when one of Connecticut’s three wins coming into the game was against Indiana.
Indiana could never create space against Connecticut on Tuesday night, no matter how much the Fever scored. The Fever scored 29 points in the first quarter, but only led by one as they allowed 28 to the Sun. At halftime and at the end of the third quarter, the lead was just two.
The Fever allowed 12 offensive rebounds and turned the ball over 12 times, giving Connecticut multiple extra possessions. Indiana still won the game at the end of the day, but it was much more difficult than it should’ve been.
Fan wearing Fever jersey gets ejected
A fan wearing a No. 22 Indiana Fever t-shirt jersey was ejected from his courtside seat in the second quarter.
It happened after a timeout, when Sun guard Saniya Rivers went to the sideline where the fan was sitting to inbound the ball. Rivers then stepped away from the sideline, having a passionate conversation with two referees.
Security eventually identified the fan, who was escorted out of his seat and taken up through the lower-level seats to the concourse. Other fans booed and waved goodbye as he left with a security escort.
It’s not clear what the fan said or did to Rivers for him to get ejected.
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at capeterson@gannett.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter.
Indiana
Fernando Mendoza, citing Raiders obligations, misses Indiana’s White House visit
Fernando Mendoza did not attend Indiana University’s visit to the White House commemorating the Hoosiers’ college football national championship on Monday. The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback said earlier this month that he would not attend if it interfered with any activities with his new team.
“I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here,” Mendoza said following a rookie minicamp practice. “I got to prove myself. I can’t miss practice. I don’t know anything official. I don’t have the calendar, but I just wouldn’t. As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look, and I want to try to best serve my teammates. And I don’t know if that’d be accomplishing that goal.”
According to the team’s official offseason schedule, the Raiders did not have any formal practices or workouts on Monday. The team’s next organized activity is May 18, its first OTA workout.
“Fernando couldn’t be here today because, as I said, he’s now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders,” President Donald Trump said in his address. “Let’s see how good of a team they have, and I think he’s gonna do great. He’s a winner.”
Mendoza wasn’t the only absence. Center Pat Coogan and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds were among the other Hoosiers not in attendance for the event due to NFL obligations. Indiana had a program-record eight players selected in April’s NFL Draft.
Trump highlighted Mendoza’s accomplishments and contributions to the school’s first football national title. He celebrated Mendoza as Indiana’s inaugural Heisman Trophy winner and praised his fourth-quarter touchdown run in the championship game against Miami.
“He’s gonna be a good one,” Trump said.
Indiana was well-represented by returning members of the team. Charlie Becker, one of Mendoza’s go-to receivers during the College Football Playoffs, and Jamari Sharpe, whose late interception secured the title-game victory, both spoke on behalf of the school, as did head coach Curt Cignetti.
Mendoza is one of four members of the national champion Hoosiers who joined the Raiders this offseason. Running back Roman Hemby and wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr. signed as undrafted free agents in the days following the draft. Wide receiver Jonathan Brady earned a contract after impressing as a tryout player during rookie minicamp.
Indiana
Suspect in custody after Muncie triple shooting leaves 1 woman dead, 2 men injured
MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating a triple shooting that took place on Muncie’s south side Sunday evening that left a woman dead and two men injured.
According to police, at approximately 5:27 p.m., Muncie Police Officers were dispatched to the 2700 block of South Walnut Street in reference to reports of several people being shot.
Officers arrived and located three gunshot victims: A 23-year-old female who died from “multiple wounds,” a 39-year-old male who is hospitalized in stable condition, and a 40-year-old male who was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital in critical condition.
Police say a suspect is in custody, a 21-year-old man.
Police did not provide any additional information.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Muncie Police Detective Division at 765-747-4867 or dispatch at 765-747-4838.
Indiana
Indiana Pacers exec apologizes to fans after losing first-round pick
Candace Parker, Cynthia Cooper share thoughts on Knicks playoff run
USAT’s Sam Cardona-Norberg asks WNBA legends Candace Parker and Cynthia Cooper to give their thoughts on the Knicks hot playoff run.
Sports Seriously
The Indiana Pacers lost 63 games this season for a chance at a franchise-changing lottery pick. On Sunday, May 10, they lost that chance, too.
All Pacers president Kevin Pritchard could do was apologize for taking the risk.
Indiana’s pick landed at No. 5 in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, one spot outside the top four protections attached to a midseason trade. The selection now belongs to the Los Angeles Clippers .
Shortly after the results were announced, Pritchard took social media and apologized.
“I’m really sorry to all our fans,” Pritchard wrote. “I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck.”
The Pacers entered the lottery with a 52.1% chance of securing a top-four pick after finishing 19-63, the second-worst record in the NBA. It wasn’t enough.
Indiana sent Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 first-round pick to Los Angeles in the midseason deal for Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown, along with the conditional 2026 first-rounder. The pick was theirs to keep only if it landed in the top four.
Zubac appeared in just five games for Indiana after the trade because of a fractured rib.
“This team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year,” Pritchard wrote. “We have always been resillient.”
Pritchard will have to be resilient if he looks at the replies to his statement. About half of the Pacers fans’ comments were not happy, and fans of other teams called him out for “tanking.”
There were also a large number of fans who were supportive of Pritchard taking that risk.
Tyrese Haliburton is expected to return next season after tearing his Achilles in last year’s NBA Finals. The Pacers will have him Pascal Siakam and a roster they think is built to compete. They just won’t have that first-round pick to add to it.
The 2026 NBA Draft begins June 23 in Brooklyn.
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