After a five-game absence due to a groin injury, All-WNBA point guard Caitlin Clark made her highly anticipated return to the Indiana Fever lineup. However, her comeback ended in disappointment as the Fever fell to Kayla Thornton and the Golden State Valkyries with a final score of 80-61 on Wednesday afternoon. Clark, showing some rust in her first game since June 24, finished with 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting, adding five rebounds and six assists. This game also marked the first time head coach Stephanie White started Aari McDonald alongside Clark in the backcourt.

With this loss, the Fever’s record for the 2025 WNBA season stands at 5-5 both with Clark in the lineup and 5-5 without her, a period that notably included their Commissioner's Cup championship win. During Clark's recent absence, Indiana had been playing some of its most impressive basketball, securing a 15-point road victory against the first-place Minnesota Lynx to claim the Commissioner's Cup trophy. They also concluded a three-game winning streak with a dominant 27-point win over the Las Vegas Aces.

During Thursday’s practice, Fever forward Sophie Cunningham spoke to the media about the team's efforts to find consistency. She openly addressed the significant adjustments the team is making with Clark back in the lineup. Cunningham stated, "I think that everyone saw that we kind of got some flow when Cait was hurt and our offense was clicking. Now we have to have a new offense when she’s in there because she just brings that much to the game. And so we have to adjust, and I think all of us just want it now. We know what the potential of this team can be. But we can’t think about that. You really have to take it day to day, and stuff that worked here, we need to carry it over to tomorrow’s game."

Cunningham also expressed the team's frustration following Wednesday's defeat. She highlighted the demanding schedule ahead, remarking, "We have a lot of games coming up, and I think like seven days or whatnot. And so it’s mentally making sure that we’re good. It’s physically making sure we’re getting recovery, making sure we’re taking care of our bodies off the court. But we're trying to figure it out. I mean, you guys see it, we're all frustrated. We're trying to figure out what's clicking, what's not clicking."

Ahead of their next game against the Atlanta Dream, Cunningham emphasized the team's need for a deeper sense of urgency to address their inconsistent campaign. In a video posted by The Athletic's James Boyd, she asserted, "I think tomorrow night you’re gonna see a lot of fight. We’re starting to get a little bit pissed off and I think that’s what we need. We need a fire under our butts. We’re running out of time, to be honest. I think that's gonna light a fire under our butts. So hopefully, you'll gonna see that energy shift tomorrow." Despite the exhaustion from a packed schedule, Cunningham maintained a philosophical perspective, stating, "We're all a little bit exhausted, but everyone is. We've got a lot of games this season, that's part of being a pro. What a blessing we get to dribble an orange basketball for a living. Sometimes, it's (about) taking a step back and having a better perspective and being grateful for it." The Fever had one day off before hosting Brittney Griner and the Atlanta Dream on Friday.