The Indiana Fever didn’t go away. They just haven’t played in more than a week.

They’re eager to get back on the court for Sunday’s game at the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces.

“The players are probably looking forward to it,” Indiana coach Stephanie White said. “Certainly, nobody likes to practice this much.”

After defeating the visiting Los Angeles Sparks 111-87 on June 27, the Fever (11-8) had ample practice time to prepare for their first meeting this season with the Aces (15-5).

Las Vegas spent Friday night earning a 98-90 home victory against the Chicago Sky, which marked the 500th win in franchise history.

“It has been fun to be part of the early days, but also the present day where I get the privilege to watch a lot of great brilliance out there,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said.

Indiana’s Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston have been selected as WNBA All-Star Game starters.

“I think it’s awesome,” White said.

Both sides could be missing some star power Sunday. Las Vegas center A’ja Wilson, also selected to be an All-Star starter, missed the team’s past two games with a leg injury. She averages a league-leading 25.7 points per game.

Clark, even with the Fever’s long layoff, won’t play Sunday in Las Vegas as she continues to rehabilitate a back injury. The Fever won both games Clark missed this season.

“But I’m feeling a lot better,” Clark said, expecting to play within the next week. She was the Eastern Conference’s Player of the Month for June.

With Clark out, it gives veteran guard Tyasha Harris a second consecutive start. Harris set season highs with 16 points and five rebounds in the team’s most recent game.

Former Fever player NaLyssa Smith had 29 points on 11-for-14 shooting Friday for the Aces. Las Vegas guard Chelsea Gray delivered clutch plays late in regulation and in overtime.

“It’s in her DNA,” Hammon said. “She likes the big moments.”

The Fever could have some new twists.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for us to continue to get better, to continue to add some things, to address some areas of slippage,” White said. “The opportunity to get in the gym and to really get to work has been really great for us, but certainly everybody is itching to get a game.”

Mitchell led Indiana in scoring the past two games, posting 30 and 26 points respectively in those outings.

This marks the beginning of a four-game road trip out west for the Fever.

–Field Level Media

No. 2 overall draft pick Darryn Peterson shined in his Summer League debut, scoring 28 points in 27 minutes to help the Utah Jazz notch a 103-102 overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday at Salt Lake City.

Peterson has the microscope on him after a much-maligned one college season in which he dealt with repeated cramping issues and other injuries. The Jazz picked him after the Washington Wizards took BYU’s AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 in the draft,

Peterson made 11 of 21 field-goal attempts, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range, and also contributed five rebounds and two blocked shots. On the downside, he committed eight turnovers.

Peterson pointed out the game was his first since Kansas lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against St. John’s. He averaged 20.2 points last season but missed 11 of the Jayhawks’ 35 games.

“It felt great,” Peterson said. “I hadn’t played since my last game in March. Playing another basketball game, this is what I love to do.”

Utah’s next game is Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies, also on the University of Utah campus.

–Field Level Media

The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers will have four hitters in the National League’s starting lineup when the world’s best players gather July 14 in Philadelphia for the 96th All-Star Game.

Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who received the most votes among National League players to guarantee his sixth consecutive All-Star spot last week, learned Saturday he will be joined in the lineup by first baseman Freddie Freeman, third baseman Max Muncy and center fielder Andy Pages.

Fans and players also elected Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh and New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto as starters. Baldwin, Marsh and Pages are first-time all-stars.

The American League starting lineup features a mix of perpetual All-Stars and new faces. The New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout and Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton comprise the AL’s outfield, though Judge (rib stress fracture) likely won’t be available and Trout (hamstring) might not be activated in time to play.

Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers and Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement make their All-Star Game debuts alongside Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero and Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez.

Alvarez cracked his league-high 28th home run Saturday night while Caminero delivered his 11th blast in the Rays’ last 11 games to move his home run total to 26 for the year.

Clement, who owns a .293 batting average and .746 OPS for the 42-47 Blue Jays, received the most fan votes to become the first AL player to secure his spot in the lineup. Langeliers is the first A’s catcher selected to start since Terry Steinbach made consecutive starts in 1988 and 1989.

The American League pitching staff features 11 hurlers making either their first or second All-Star Game appearance. Only Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman (ninth selection) knows the ropes extensively.

Toronto’s Dylan Cease, Cleveland’s Parker Messick, Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen, Minnesota’s Joe Ryan, New York’s Cam Schlitter, Boston’s Ranger Suarez and Kansas City’s Michael Wacha are the starters selected while Chapman is joined in the bullpen by Tampa Bay’s Bryan Baker, Texas’ Jacob Latz, Cleveland’s Cade Smith and Toronto’s Louis Varland.

The NL staff features slightly more experience as Atlanta ace Chris Sale (10th selection) is the only pitcher with more than three All-Star Games on his resume. Cincinnati’s Chase Burns, Miami’s Max Meyer, Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski, Arizona’s Eduardo Rodriguez, Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, San Francisco’s Logan Webb and Los Angeles’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto join Sale on the starting staff.

San Diego closer Mason Miller leads a bullpen that includes Philadelphia’s Jhoan Duran and Atlanta’s Raisel Iglesias.

In addition to Marsh, Sanchez and Duran, Phillies fans will get to cheer for first baseman Bryce Harper and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber as reserves. Harper (ninth All-Star appearance) was deemed a “legend pick” while Schwarber leads the majors with 30 homers.

The National League bench consists of catchers William Contreras (Milwaukee) and Hunter Goodman (Colorado), first baseman Matt Olson (Atlanta), shortstop Otto Lopez (Miami), utility infielders Luis Arraez (San Francisco) and Sal Stewart (Cincinnati) and outfielders Corbin Carroll (Arizona), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), Jordan Walker (St. Louis) and James Wood (Washington).

The American League reserves are catchers Dillon Dingler (Detroit) and Adley Rutschman (Baltimore), designated hitter Yandy Diaz (Tampa Bay), first basemen Nick Kurtz (Athletics) and Ben Rice (Yankees), rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana (Cleveland), rookie shortstop/third baseman Kevin McGonigle (Detroit), third baseman Miguel Vargas (White Sox) and outfielders Randy Arozarena (Seattle), Cody Bellinger (Yankees) and Riley Greene (Detroit).

The Phillies, Dodgers and Braves boast the most All-Stars with five apiece. Twenty-six players — including 15 of the 32 players on the American League roster — are making their first All-Star appearance.

–Field Level Media