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<\/a><\/p>\nThe Sparks\u2019 Rickea Jackson and Cameron Brink surround the Dream\u2019s Maya Caldwell. Getty Images<\/p>\n
Once again, Allisha Gray will be absent for the Dream, slated to miss her second-straight game, and only second game of the season, with a left knee issue.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, however, the Sparks still struggled to slow down the Dream offense, despite the absence of their leading scorer. It\u2019s that end of the floor that has been the issue for LA all season, and what ultimately could keep them from making the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. Not only did the Sparks fail to stymy Rhyne Howard (19 points, 53.8 percent shooting, three 3s and five assists) or Brionna Jones (16 points and 13 rebounds), but they also allowed Naz Hillmon and Maya Caldwell to provide an extra source of scoring, combining for 29 points that more than compensated for Gray\u2019s production.<\/p>\n
An off-the-bench Spark also would help LA, as no reserve scored more than three points for the visitors on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The Fever\u2019s Kelsey Mitchell evades the Sky\u2019s Elizabeth Williams for the score. NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n It\u2019s official. Caitlin Clark, whose chance of returning from her extended groin injury already seemed highly unlikely, announced on social media<\/a> that she will miss the rest of the 2025 season. She joins Sydney Colson, Aari McDonald, Sophie Cunningham and Chloe Bibby as permanently sidelined Fever players.<\/p>\n But, persevering through adversity has become Indy\u2019s brand during this injury-plagued season. After two-straight losses that have them hanging on to the No. 8 seed, they\u2019re due for a bounceback performance. And the Sky are just about the ideal opponent. The Fever are 4-0 against the Sky this season, averaging almost 90 points per game and winning by an average margin of almost 25 points.<\/p>\n Kelsey Mitchell has cooked Chicago, shooting better than 53 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3 as she has averaged over 23 points across the three games.<\/p>\n The Storm\u2019s Nneka Ogwumike chases down a loose ball ahead of the Liberty\u2019s Breanna Stewart. Getty Images<\/p>\n The Storm are 2-0 against the Liberty this season, and with a season sweep of the defending champs, Seattle will be in strong position<\/a> to clinch a playoff spot.<\/p>\n The fact that the Storm could go 3-0 against the Liberty this season, yet are still fighting for a playoff spot, is illustrative of their season. The highs are high. The lows are low. That\u2019s left them in the mediocre middle, a disappointing spot for a vet-heavy team with championship ambitions.<\/p>\n Seattle has been a beneficiary of the Liberty\u2019s injury issues, and that again could be the case on Friday night. In the first matchup, New York was without Jonquel Jones or Sabrina Ionescu. Jones again missed the second game, and Ionescu, along with Nyara Sabally, is questionable for the third and final contest. New York also is stumbling into Seattle on a two-game losing streak, dropping the first two games of their three-game West Coast road trip.<\/p>\n The conditions are right for another Seattle win, even if that might be an ominous sign for this team.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n