The WNBA’s first All-Star Sport in Indianapolis was anticipated to be a crowning achievement for Caitlin Clark in her second season. She was named a captain in Saturday’s All-Star Sport and deliberate to take part within the 3-point problem on Friday. As an alternative, Clark will once more watch from the sidelines, a sight that has turn into all too acquainted this season.
Clark by no means missed a recreation throughout 4 years on the College of Iowa or throughout her rookie WNBA season in 2024, however three separate accidents have sidelined the Indiana Fever guard for 10 regular-season video games this summer season (in addition to the Commissioner’s Cup final, which does not depend towards group information). Most not too long ago, a right groin sprain suffered in a recreation on July 15 has pressured Clark out of the All-Star Sport, the place she was the main vote-getter in fan balloting.
Final yr’s Rookie of the Yr and a 2024 first-team All-WNBA choice, Clark is averaging 16.5 factors, 8.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals this season, showing in 13 video games.
Clark’s absences have put a damper on an Indiana season that began with actual promise. After making the postseason for the primary time since 2016 final yr, the Fever entered this season with excessive hopes after a busy offseason that included a number of key free agent acquisitions and bringing again Stephanie White for her second stint as Fever head coach. Indiana (12-11) sits in sixth place within the WNBA standings on the All-Star break.
We monitor Clark’s accidents, absences and capturing this season, in addition to key personnel strikes which have impacted the Fever.
Clark, who handled a left quad harm throughout coaching camp, sits out the Fever’s first preseason recreation, a 79-74 time beyond regulation victory over the Washington Mystics, with what she describes as quad tightness.
However Clark performs the next day when the Fever beat the Brazilian nationwide group 108-44 in an exhibition game at Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena, punctuating the night time with a 36-foot 3-pointer from simply behind the spot on the courtroom that has her No. 22 brand affixed.
Indiana opens the season 2-2 — shedding its two video games by a mixed three factors — however 9 days into the season, the Fever announce Clark will miss a minimum of two weeks with a left quad sprain. Whereas on the identical leg, a group spokesman stated it is a completely different harm from what Clark handled within the preseason.
White stated Clark wasn’t certain when the harm occurred however had reported some ache in her leg after a Might 24 loss to the New York Liberty.
Clark misses 5 video games from Might 28 to June 10; Indiana goes 2-3 in that span.
Indiana picks up 5-foot-6 level guard Aari McDonald by way of emergency hardship exception after the Fever fall beneath 10 accessible gamers — Sophie Cunningham and Syndey Colson have been additionally out with transient accidents.
On June 3, after Indiana has misplaced its first two video games with out Clark, McDonald comes off the bench for the Fever in opposition to Washington. She posts 7 factors, 5 assists and three steals in 27 minutes.
McDonald is waived on June 13, per CBA guidelines, as soon as Clark and Cunningham are dominated accessible.
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Caitlin Clark places on a present with 25 first-half factors in her return
Caitlin Clark lights it up with six 3s and 25 factors within the first half in her first recreation again from harm for the Fever.
Clark makes a press release in her first recreation again, totaling 32 factors, 9 assists and eight rebounds at hand the New York Liberty their first lack of the season. Clark scores 25 factors by halftime, fueled by a stretch within the first quarter, when she drains three consecutive 3-pointers, the primary from 33 toes. She nails a 27-footer 21 seconds later, and a 31-footer 22 seconds after that. She finishes with seven treys.
Clark, who accounts for 54 of Indiana’s factors by her scoring and passing within the 102-88 victory over the defending WNBA champs, performs 31 minutes, 18 seconds, and says after the sport that she felt wonderful apart from being a bit of winded a number of instances.
“My legs felt actually robust. I felt in fine condition,” she stated.
Clark performs in 5 consecutive video games — the Fever go 3-2, together with a 94-86 win on the Seattle Storm on June 24 to snap a two-game shedding streak on the highway. However Clark, who shoots 0-for-6 on 3-pointers in opposition to the Storm, is dominated out two days later because of a left groin sprain forward of a house recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Sparks.
White says earlier than the sport she discovered concerning the harm late the earlier night time, after the group’s coaching workers had taken Clark for an MRI.
Earlier than she’s sidelined once more, Clark goes 1-for-23 from the 3-point line in a three-game stretch.
In her first recreation in 15 days, Clark tallies 10 factors, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 turnovers in simply lower than 25 minutes in an 80-61 loss to the Golden State Valkyries.
The loss drops the Fever to 9-10 on the season — 5-5 with Clark on the ground and 4-5 with out her.
White says the Fever’s “lack of aggressive hearth” led to the loss.
The Fever reel off three straight wins because the All-Star break approaches, enhancing their file to 12-10, two video games above .500 for the primary time this season. However within the closing minute of an 85-77 win over the Connecticut Sun, Clark pulls up as she’s driving towards the basket, dishes a bounce cross after which holds the within of her proper thigh. Visibly pissed off, briefly resting her head in opposition to the stanchion, Clark leaves the courtroom whereas preventing again tears, finally protecting her head with a towel.
Clark finishes with 14 factors, 8 rebounds and seven assists, together with 9 factors and two assists within the fourth quarter.
However Clark shoots 1-for-7 on 3-point makes an attempt, hitting simply her second 3 on the highway this season. In her 4 video games earlier than the announcement harm, Clark is 6-for-26 (23.1%) from downtown.
After the sport, White tells reporters Clark “felt a bit of one thing in her groin.”
Clark, who group officers say underwent imaging Wednesday to find out the extent of the harm, sits out her tenth regular-season recreation. Indiana loses 98-77 on the New York Liberty.
White says she’s going to defer to the Fever’s athletic coaching workers on the take a look at outcomes however provides, “I contemplate it excellent news” as a result of “something that we’re speaking about nonetheless day-to-day is at all times excellent news for me.”
Clark broadcasts she’s going to miss Friday’s 3-point contest and Saturday’s All-Star Sport in Indianapolis.
“I am extremely unhappy and disillusioned to say I am unable to take part,” Clark writes in a press release shared by the Fever on social media. “I’ve to relaxation my physique.”
a message from Caitlin Clark ❤️ pic.twitter.com/zRGZEpqF5R
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 17, 2025