The Indiana Fever rallied without WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark to defeat the Portland Fire on Wednesday, May 20.
Aliyah Boston poured in 24 points, and Kelsey Mitchell added 21 as the Fever earned a 90-73 triumph at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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Meanwhile, Clark sat out with a sore back. Indiana head coach Stephanie White said Clark woke up with pain and stiffness.
“This is just a back issue that we want to make sure we give the time to be ready,” White told WNBA.com.
Unfortunately, the timing of the decision to sit Clark could land the Fever in hot water with the league, per Yahoo Sports.
Indiana announced Clark would sit out less than two hours before tip-off. WNBA rules state player availability information must be submitted by 5 p.m. the day before the game, unless it is the second game of a back-to-back. The Fever’s previous game was Sunday.
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Also, Clark did not practice Tuesday. Indiana did not report that as required.
After the game, White said she isn’t concerned about facing discipline from the WNBA.
“Not everybody that doesn’t practice or gets a pro day is on the injury report,” White said, per ClutchPoints on X. “So that happens all the time. And she wasn’t listed on the injury report earlier because we expected her to play.”
Clark off to strong start
Clark missed her first game Wednesday after playing just 13 WNBA games due to various injuries in 2025. She is averaging 24.3 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds for the Fever (3-2).
Still, injury concerns have followed the two-time WNBA All-Star and 2024 Rookie of the Year into the new season. During a season-opening loss to the Dallas Wings, Clark twice left the floor and went into the tunnel to get adjustments to her back.
Indiana returns to action at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday at home against the Golden State Valkyries.
