Caitlin Clark's bench antics go viral as Fever hit with third straight loss in her absence

The Indiana Fever suffered another crushing defeat on Friday night, falling 85-83 at home to the Connecticut Sun, who came into the game winless.

It marked the third straight loss for the Fever and their second since Caitlin Clark was ruled out with a quadriceps injury.

While Clark wasn't active on the court, her intense involvement from the sidelines has become a major talking point among fans.

Clark, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, was as vocal and animated as ever, engaging in heated conversations with referees and standing in of her teammates throughout the game.

At one point, her visible frustration over a missed call drew the cameras-and attention from the fanbase.

Despite the absence of their franchise centerpiece, the Fever displayed signs of fight, rallying back from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter. A pair of clutch three-pointers from DeWanna Bonner even gave Indiana a late 76-74 lead.

But the comeback fell short in the final seconds when Kelsey Mitchell's off-balance attempt to tie the game missed, handing the Sun their first victory of the season.

Fans react to Clark's sideline intensity and Fever's struggles

Clark's absence continues to loom large over the Fever, but her presence on the bench has not gone unnoticed. Social media quickly buzzed with reactions to her visible frustration and encouragement from the sidelines.

"Probably killing her to be on the sideline. Get healthy queen CC!" one fan posted. Another added, "Can one player really have that big of an impact on a team? It's starting to look like it. Need her healthy and back on the floor."

A more blunt post read: "We need her back, this team sucks. You disappointed your fans once again."

While opinions varied, the message was consistent-Clark's leadership, energy, and offensive firepower are sorely missed. The Fever are now 2-4, slipping quickly in the standings after a promising start to the 2025 campaign.

Clark, who led the WNBA in assists last season and energized the women's game at both the college and professional levels, is expected to be sidelined for at least two more contests.

Her injury couldn't come at a worse time for Indiana. Not only has Clark's replacement, Sydney Colson, also gone down with a knee injury, but other key contributors like Sophie Cunningham have picked up knocks too.

Without their backcourt anchors, the Fever are left scrambling for consistency and composure late in games.

Clark's intensity on the bench highlighted her commitment, but it also served as a reminder of just how vital she is to Indiana's success. Until she returns, the Fever will face continued pressure to stay afloat in a competitive WNBA landscape.