One of the best and most exciting players in the WNBA is looking at a two-week absence at minimum. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is expected to miss multiple weeks due to a left quad strain, the team announced Monday.
The Fever released a brief statement announcing the news:
“Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has suffered a left quadriceps strain and will be out a minimum of two weeks, the team announced today. Further updates will be provided, as available, following re-evaluation.”
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The team did not provide additional details, including when Clark sustained the injury. It’s reportedly a new injury for Clark, who also dealt with a left quad strain in the preseason. Clark missed the team’s preseason opener due to that injury before returning for the Fever’s second preseason game.
Clark played 37 minutes in the team’s 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty on Saturday. She posted her usual numbers in the loss, scoring 18 points and dishing out 10 assists.
“I don’t know when it happened,” Fever coach Stephanie White said, via the Indianapolis Star. “I know [after the Liberty game] we got a message that something was going on with her leg and they were getting an MRI, and then we got the word.”
Clark will miss at least four games while recovering from the injury. If she’s available to play after exactly two weeks, Clark could be cleared to face the Atlanta Dream on June 10. That’s the earliest possible timetable for Clark’s return. She could miss additional time after being re-evaluated by the team.
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After being selected by the Fever with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Clark established herself as a future superstar. She averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds in her first taste of the WNBA. That performance earned her the Rookie of the Year award, an All-Star appearance and a top-four finish in MVP voting.
Clark was poised for even better things in her second season. Through four games, she was putting up similar numbers to her rookie year, averaging 19 points, 9.3 assists and 6 rebounds.
“When you think about Caitlin and her not wanting to miss games, she’s obviously a competitor and wants to play, obviously everyone wants to watch her play, you know?” White said. “But for me, it’s maintaining perspective, right? It’s making sure that we address this in a way that doesn’t affect long term, that we take care of it. Don’t over push, don’t over exert, making sure that we take the long-game approach to this, so that we’re not having lingering issues throughout the course of the season. Sometimes great players don’t tell you when they’re hurting. I’m glad that she did, because we need to nip this in the bud.”
With Clark sidelined, the Fever will rely more heavily on Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell to carry a bigger scoring load. Boston ranks second on the team — behind Clark — with 18.5 points per game. Mitchell is third on the team with 17.8 points per game.
The Fever (2-2) will play their first game without Clark on Wednesday, when they travel to take on the Washington Mystics.
