The Phoenix Mercury will welcome the Indiana Fever to PHX Arena for the first time this season, but the Fever’s star will likely be on the sidelines.
Caitlin Clark has been dealing with a right groin injury since July 15 and has missed the last eight games, including the loss against the Los Angeles Spark on Aug. 5. Clark has dealt with four different muscle injuries this season and has been sidelined for more than half of the Fever’s games this season, totaling the longest absence of her playing career.
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However, Clark is traveling with the team during its four-game West Coast road trip, which will stop in Phoenix on Thursday, Aug. 7.
Fever coach Stephanie White said there isn’t a timeline for Clark’s return, and the team’s priority is making sure Clark is fully healthy before making her way back to the court to avoid any setbacks that could threaten her postseason availability.
Clark missed the preseason opener with left quad tightness, then had a left quad strain that kept her out for two weeks. Shortly after returning from that left quad injury, she suffered a left groin injury, keeping her out for another two weeks.
The Fever sit one-and-a-half games back from the Mercury and are fifth in the WNBA standings. The Fever’s five-game win streak was snapped by Los Angeles on Aug. 5, but the Fever have been one of the better teams in the WNBA, going 7-3 in their last 10.
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Even without Clark, the Fever have the Mercury’s number, winning six consecutive games against them. The Mercury lost 107-101 to the Fever on July 30 in Indianapolis in their previous meeting this season. Arizona product Aari McDonald filled in nicely in Clark’s absence and posted 27 points with 3 of 4 shooting from the 3 against the Mercury.
The game will be shown locally on Arizona’s Family 3TV and will be shown nationally on Prime Video at 7 p.m. MT.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Will Caitlin Clark play against the Phoenix Mercury?
