The Indiana Fever will play the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday. The Fever’s goal will be to bounce back after a close 111-109 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, a game that was marred by multiple controversial official calls. Unfortunately for the Fever, they will again be without their superstar guard, as Caitlin Clark won’t be in the lineup.
While speaking to reporters during Friday’s practice, Fever head coach Stephanie White provided an update on Clark’s status:
“She’s doing alright… no indication [on how long she’s out]. It’s a good time because we have all week next week, so we’ll take this opportunity to get her treatment, get her healthy, and get her back on the floor.”
White’s answers seemed to suggest that she did not have a definitive timeline for whether or not Clark could return, even after the week-long break before facing the Las Vegas Aces on the road, noting, “Long-term health and wellness is the most important thing.”
This update left fans deeply worried about Clark’s status, and reactions on X (formerly Twitter) flooded in with widespread concern.
Clark has been dealing with back pain and was on the receiving end of some intensely physical plays against Phoenix. She was knocked to the ground and seemingly choked near the throat by Alyssa Thomas, but she still managed to keep playing before tweaking her back in the third quarter when she was fouled on a 3-point attempt by Phoenix’s Valeriane Ayayi. Thomas was suspended for one game for the physical play on Clark.
Caitlin Clark’s Injury Absence Will Reportedly Have a Massive Financial Impact
The “Caitlin Clark Effect” is still going strong, as the star guard continues to draw record-breaking TV ratings for the WNBA. However, her absence from Saturday’s national game on CBS is expected to cut television viewership in half, according to sports journalist Christine Brennan.
Brennan pointed out the direct business consequences of the physical hits Clark has been taking on the court.
“There is a tremendous financial impact to the pounding Caitlin Clark is taking,” Brennan wrote on X. “She is now out of Saturday’s 8 p.m. nationally televised game on CBS. We know from TV data that viewership for that game will now be half of what it would have been had she played.”
As the most popular WNBA player in the world, Clark draws in a massive fanbase. The Indiana Fever have relied heavily on her, but after dealing with recurring back pain, the team is prioritizing her long-term health. While the Fever will miss her on the floor, they cannot afford to rush her back too quickly.
Even without Clark, the Fever have a great chance to bounce back against a struggling Los Angeles Sparks team. The Sparks are dealing with their own missing players, including Kelsey Plum and Cameron Brink, and are coming off a tough 125-97 blowout loss to the Toronto Tempo.
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