Fever make powerful statement Caitlin Clark will be happy to hear

The Fever's massive win over the Sky on Saturday thrilled fans, and it also offered up evidence of a very reassuring fact: the team can survive (and even thrive) with Caitlin Clark off the floor. With this win, the Fever has now had back-to-back victories that have done a lot to boost player and fan morale.

The first few games following news of Clark's injury were pretty dismal for the team. The Fever lost to the Mystics and the Sun, losses that appeared to suggest the team was aimless and struggling with Clark on the court. Kelsey Mitchell admitted the Fever had an off-court issue that was plaguing them: they needed to get their heads in the game.

While speaking to reporters last week, Mitchell explained, "I think the one thing that we've all been struggling with lately is just making conscious decisions, unconsciously," she explained, per Scott Agness. I think that we've been overthinking a bit, in every aspect of the last couple of games."

Mitchell also said coach Stephanie White has emphasized a similar point to the team since Friday's game. The team needs to simplify the entire process of playing the game, she added. "Making the right play, but keeping it simple. And not overthinking. I think too often, overthinking the process a bit... and I think the right play is always the simple one."

Aari McDonald gave the Fever the spark they needed

Signing Aari McDonald to a hardship contract has turned out to be exactly the move the Fever needed to make. McDonald hit the ground running before the proverbial ink was even dry, immediately boosting the team toward its 85-76 win over the Mystics on June 3.

The Fever will next head to Atlanta, where they will face the Dream for the third time this season (the teams are currently tied with one win each). The game could be Clark's first back on the court, though she and the team have stayed pretty quiet on the topic.

Last week Clark spoke to reporters about her injury, but made sure to shy away from giving an exact return date. Clark also said she realized she was hurt during the team's game against the New York Liberty, but wasn't sure exactly when. According to a tweet from SB Nation's Jacob Rude, Clark felt pain during the game and a subsequent MRI revealed the strain.

Clark has been spending a lot of time on the sidelines, where she's been seen cheering for her teammates and absorbing information from Coach Stephanie White and the Fever's coaching staff. "It’s taught me a lot. I’ve never been in that position of getting to watch from the bench for an extended period of time," Clark said of the time she's spent on the bench so far.