Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will miss her sixth consecutive recreation with a proper groin harm Friday when her staff takes on No. 1 total choose Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings. Clark, who was injured late within the Fever’s win over the Connecticut Sun on July 15, doesn’t have an official return timeline.
The Fever released an update on July 24 saying that Clark “underwent additional medical evaluations earlier this week, which confirmed that no extra accidents or harm have been found.” The staff added that Clark will “proceed working with the medical staff on her restoration and rehabilitation, with the precedence on her long-term well being and well-being.”
Following Friday’s contest, the Fever will proceed their four-game street journey to start August with matchups towards the Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks and Phoenix Mercury. It is unclear if Clark shall be cleared whereas they’re away from dwelling.
After a historic Rookie of the Yr season, Clark’s sophomore marketing campaign has been derailed by accidents. She’s been restricted to 13 appearances on account of a left quad pressure that stored her out for 3 weeks, a left groin harm that sidelined her for 2 weeks and now a proper groin harm. Alongside the way in which, she’s missed out on the Commissioner’s Cup championship and All-Star weekend in her adopted dwelling metropolis of Indianapolis.
Caitlin Clark explains how injuries have affected her: ‘First time I haven’t felt like a young body’
Jack Maloney
Spending a lot time on the coaching desk is a brand new expertise for Clark, who previous to this season had not missed a recreation on account of harm since she was in highschool.
“That is the primary time I have not felt like a younger physique that may run round and dash day by day and simply proceed to do this,” Clark told Glamour over All-Star weekend. “Being knowledgeable athlete, you actually must maintain each your physique and your thoughts — it has been a journey studying about that.”
When Clark has been in a position to get on the ground, she’s struggled to search out the shape that made her an All-WNBA First Crew honoree final season. Apart from a triple-double within the Fever’s season opener and a 32-point, eight-rebound, nine-assist effort in her return from her first harm, many of the dialogue about Clark’s on-court efficiency has centered round her prolonged capturing hunch.
Clark is 7 of 49 from 3-point vary in her final seven appearances, and has didn’t make a 3-pointer in three separate video games. For the season, she’s capturing 36.7% from the sector, together with 27.9% from behind the arc. Notably, she is 2 of 35 from downtown on the street.
Regardless of her poor capturing, Clark remains to be placing up 16.5 factors, 5 rebounds and eight.8 assists per recreation — good for second within the league — and the Fever have been considerably higher along with her on the ground. The 15-12 Fever are 8-5 when Clark performs and 7-7 when she doesn’t, and their offensive ranking drops from 108.6 with Clark to 102.2 with out her.
Coming into Friday, the Fever sit in sixth place with a two-game benefit on the ninth-place Washington Mystics. Because the stretch run begins, the Fever will hope to string the needle of giving Clark sufficient time to get well and be as near 100% as doable for a possible postseason run, whereas additionally ensuring they get there within the first place.