The Indiana Fever face the Washington Mystics in a pre-season matchup of the WNBA. However, head coach Stephanie White dealt some concerning news about star Caitlin Clark just minutes before game.
Clark will not suit up for today’s preseason opener, as Indiana has ruled their 2024 Rookie of the Year out with a left-leg issue. She was conspicuously absent from the Fever’s released starting five, confirming early reports that she would sit out rather than risk further aggravation.
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The decision comes just two weeks before the Fever open the regular season on May 17, stressing a cautious approach to Clark’s long-term health.
Indiana Fever Caitlin Clark (22) warms up Saturday, May 3, 2025, during a preseason game between the Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics© Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Fever head coach Stephanie White revealed that Clark will still go through the team’s pregame warmups, with a final determination to come afterward.
“We’ve got to look at the long term. We’ve got to make sure that we’re not putting Caitlin [Clark] at risk for injury,” White said. “We are thinking short term, not long term. It’s a long season”.
Indiana’s announced starters for today’s game are Sydney Colson, Kelsey Mitchell, DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston.
Clark’s absence leaves a significant void in Indiana’s backcourt, as she led the WNBA last season in assists per game (8.4) and scored 19.2 points per contest, shattering the league’s single-season assist record. Indiana’s focus now shifts to ensuring Clark is fully healthy for the regular-season opener against the Chicago Sky, when Fever fans hope to see their star guard back at full strength.
