Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been dominated out of Saturday’s sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Sparks, which can mark the fifth consecutive sport she has missed as she recovers from a left groin harm. Clark’s absence continues because the Fever come off the excessive of profitable the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup in an upset over the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night time.
Clark had been a partial participant in follow in latest days, and Fever coach Stephanie White maintained to reporters on Wednesday that the crew continues to be cautious along with her restoration.
“My aim has at all times been the identical: I do not need this to be one thing that lingers, that we come again too quickly, ” White mentioned. “We wish to be sure that she is 100% able to go and that we put her long-term well being and wellness on the forefront.”
Fever vs. Lynx rating: How Indiana surprised Minnesota to win Commissioner’s Cup regardless of Caitlin Clark’s absence
Jack Maloney
Clark final spoke on Sunday after follow and instructed reporters she felt “good” and was taking issues “day-by-day.”
“Doing every part I can to place myself ready to play the following sport each single time,” Clark mentioned. “That is at all times my aim is to be accessible for the following sport. Doing every part I can with the medical workers to have the ability to get my physique proper to have the ability to try this. However yeah, I really feel good and simply going day-by-day.”
Clark has not performed since June 24, when she was held to a season-low six factors in a win over the Seattle Storm. Within the last seconds of that contest, Clark took an ungainly fall. Previous to their subsequent sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday, the crew introduced that Clark wouldn’t play on account of a groin harm. She additionally sat out in opposition to No. 1 general decide Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings final Friday.
Clark beforehand missed time with quad pressure
That is the second harm Clark has handled this season. On Memorial Day, she was recognized with a left quad pressure that in the end stored her out for 3 weeks. All instructed, Clark has missed seven of the Fever’s 16 common season video games to this point this 12 months. They’re 3-4 with out her and 5-4 when she performs.
Earlier than this season, Clark hadn’t missed a sport since highschool. Previous to sitting out of the Fever’s loss to the Washington Mystics on Might 28, she had performed in 185 consecutive video games relationship again to her freshman season of school at Iowa.
The Fever (and everybody within the league workplace) had been hoping to have Clark again for the Commissioner’s Cup championship, however there was no motive to hurry her again, even for a marquee occasion. Regardless of profitable the Commissioner’s Cup, the championship doesn’t depend as an everyday season sport and doesn’t have any tangible impact on the Fever’s season as an entire. Giving her a couple of further days to make sure she’s totally recovered is way extra essential for the Fever because the mid-way level of the season nears.
After an exhilarating begin to the season, the Fever have limped by the final month. Clark, Sophie Cunningham, Damiris Dantas and even White have missed a number of video games, whereas key free agent acquisition DeWanna Bonner pressured her approach out of city. In consequence, the Fever are caught in eighth place at 8-8. They’re going to want Clark as near 100% as attainable the remainder of the way in which in the event that they wish to climb within the standings.
