Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was a late scratch ahead of an important Wednesday game against the Portland Fire.
As of a day before, Clark was slated to be in the lineup. But just hours before warmups, something evidently changed.
Clark was a last-minute scratch for Indiana’s important tilt against the Fire, and Indiana PR later said Clark’s sudden absence was due to a back injury. It’s unclear when or how she sustained the injury at this point.
However, Fever coach Stephanie White offered an update, saying Clark did not participate in team practice yesterday and woke up with stiffness. She added that the team is being cautious and doesn’t want to take any risks with her recovery.
“For us , it’s not the time to take a chance,” White said. “She’s healthy, we’re not managing anything. This is just a back issue that we want to make /sure we give time to recover.”
The update suggests Clark’s back injury is not considered serious, and her absence appears precautionary. For Indiana fans, the news is encouraging, as it indicates the injury is unlikely to impact the team long term.
While the Fever are being careful not to rush her back, they are prioritizing rest and recovery. Clark has been ruled out for Wednesday, but the expectation is she could return for the next game, a positive development for Indiana.
This is Indiana’s fourth game in eight days, with another matchup coming Friday against the Golden State Valkyries. The medical staff is likely being cautious to avoid a repeat of last season’s injury issues.
The 24-year-old was coming off back-to-back 20+ point and 8+ assist outings. She played 37 minutes in a 104-102 overtime loss to the Washington Mystics, followed by 34 minutes in an 89-78 win over the Seattle Storm.
In her place, Ty Harris is expected to start. This will be Clark’s first absence of the season. Considering Indiana’s struggles offensively, Clark’s absence will be felt up and down the lineup against the Fire, another offensively challenged team.
Clark is averaging a career-high 24.3 points through four games this season. She is also averaging 9.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 40.6% from the field.
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