Updates, score for Caitlin Clark’s return

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The Indiana Fever will host the New York Liberty on Saturday as part of the Commissioner’s Cup, an in-season tournament within the WNBA.

The Fever will also have Caitlin Clark back. She hasn’t played since a May 24 game against the Liberty due to a quadriceps strain. Head coach Stephanie White told reporters on June 9 that Clark would participate in more practice during the week and on June 13 the team announced Clark’s return.

The unbeaten Liberty carry a nine-game winning streak into the game. Sabrina Ionescu had 23 points and seven assists for the defending champions in an 85-66 victory over the Chicago Sky on June 10. Breanna Stewart added 18 points, seven defensive rebounds and five assists for New York.

Here’s what to know for the Fever-Liberty game on Saturday, June 14, including start time and how to watch:

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The Indiana Fever maintain an 80-71 lead over the New York Liberty as they enter the fourth quarter. Caitlin Clark is having an outstanding game, contributing 32 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. For the Liberty, Sabrina Ionescu is the leading scorer with 28 points.

The Indiana Fever has taken a commanding 72-59 lead after a 17-0 run against the New York Liberty. Caitlin Clark has dazzled for the Fever with 32 points with 3:28 left in the third quarter.

The Indiana Fever have taken a 53-50 lead into halftime after an impressive performance by Caitlin Clark. Clark had her best first-half performance of her WNBA career, scoring 25 points in the first half, including six three-pointers.

Caitlin Clark has contributed 20 of the team’s 41 points in her first game back after a quad strain that had sidelined her for 18 days and caused her to miss five games.

Caitlin Clark appeared to be back in form after hitting consecutive three-pointers in the first quarter, giving Indiana the much-needed boost to reduce the Liberty’s lead to two points.

The New York Liberty have taken a slim early lead of 26-24 against the Indiana Fever. Sabrina Ionescu is leading the Liberty in scoring with seven points, while Nyara Sabally has contributed six points. The Fever’s Caitlin Clark is back on the court after spending 19 days recovering from an injury and has recorded 14 points in the first quarter.

What time is Fever vs. Liberty?

The WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty — which will count in both the regular season standings and in the Commissioner’s Cup — is set for a 3 p.m. ET tip-off at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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How to watch Fever vs. Liberty  WNBA game: TV, stream

• Time: 3 p.m. ET/ Noon PT
• Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana)
• TV: ABC
• Stream: ESPN+

Yes. The Fever announced Clark will play in Indiana’s matchup against the New York Liberty following a five-game absence due to a left quad injury.

Clark is sure she suffered the left quad strain during the Fever’s loss to the Liberty on May 24 — where she recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists — but she can’t pinpoint a specific play that caused her injury. She only knows that it happened early on in the contest.

“Obviously, adrenaline covers up a lot of stuff when you’re in the heat of battle,” Clark said on Thursday. “And after the game, I had some pain, and then we got an MRI, and that kind of gave me the result that I didn’t want to see. But, you know, those types of things don’t lie.”

USA TODAY Sports’ Cydney Henderson has more on Caitlin Clark’s recent injury and return.

The starting lineup for the Indiana Fever against the New York Liberty consists of Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Natasha Howard, and Aliyah Boston.

The starting lineup for the New York Liberty against the Indiana Fever consists of Natasha Cloud, Sabrina Ionescu, Kennedy Burke, Breanna Steward and Nyara Sabally.