As Caitlin Clark remains sidelined, Aliyah Boston explains how opponents have adjusted to Fever's offense

With 18 games left in the regular season and no timetable for Caitlin Clark's return from injury, Aliyah Boston and the Indiana Fever are continuing to adjust to playing without their star guard. Clark's already missed 13 of the team's 26 games while the Fever (14-12) remain in the WNBA playoff picture with Kelsey Mitchell picking up much of the scoring slack.

Clark was ruled out for a fifth consecutive game Wednesday when the Fever took on the Phoenix Mercury before starting a four-game road trip. Boston, who has three straight double-doubles in Clark's absence, recently told WNBA legend Candace Parker that the Fever have been forced to be more direct at the offensive end.

"I think when you have Caitlin on the floor, everything is automatically spaced," Boston said on the "Post Moves" podcast she shares with Parker. "The floor is spaced, defenses are high because she comes across half-court, you can set an early drag, and there's a deep three going up, and there's a great chance she's making it. When she's not on the floor, then obviously, [they] can shrink [the floor] a little bit."

Clark, who was injured during the Fever's win over the Connecticut Sun on July 15 and missed All-Star weekend in Indianapolis, does not have an official return timeline. 

Caitlin Clark injury update: Fever star out again Friday vs. Lynx, remains without return timeline

Jack Maloney

The Fever released an injury update on Clark last week, saying she "underwent further medical evaluations that confirmed no additional injuries or damage were discovered." 

Indiana is 6-7 without Clark in the lineup this season. She has missed time with a left quad strain that kept her out for three weeks, a left groin injury that sidelined her for two weeks and now a right groin injury resulting in more missed starts.

Clark spoke to Glamour during All-Star festivities and explained how her injury-riddled season has altered her mindset. 

"This is the first time I haven't felt like a young body that can run around and sprint every day and just continue to do that," Clark said. "Being a professional athlete, you really have to take care of both your body and your mind -- it's been a journey learning about that."

Clark's production has dipped this season during a year-long shooting slump, some of that having to do with a bevy of injuries. Clark's averaging 16.5 points, five rebounds and 8.8 assists, but is only 2 of 35 on 3-pointers away from the Fever's home floor this season.

On top of that, Clark has shot 7 of 49 in her last seven games prior to this injury.