Clark Advances in Recovery, But Doesn’t Practice with the Fever

Caitlin Clark Progresses in Her Recovery, But Isn’t Ready to Play Yet

Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White reported this Monday on the status of Caitlin Clark, the outstanding All-Star guard, who is recovering from a right groin injury. Although she is showing progress, she has not yet been able to participate in team practices. Clark suffered the injury in the last minute of the 85-77 victory against the Connecticut Sun on July 15th. Team officials have already confirmed her absence in next Tuesday’s match against the Dallas Wings, where they will face rookie Paige Bueckers. As of yet, an exact date has not been set for the return of one of the league’s most popular players.

“He hasn’t returned to training, but he has been able to do a little more running on the full field using all his body weight,” White commented after the training. “He is progressing gradually, going from a minimum of activity to building endurance for longer periods. He has been able to do a little more on the court in terms of movements, but he is not yet fit to train.”

Stephanie White

Clark started running full field last week. This season, Clark has had to miss 19 of 32 games due to three different muscle injuries. Despite these absences, Indiana has achieved a 10-9 record without Clark, including an impressive 6-2 in their last eight games, despite losing two more guards, Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald, to season-ending injuries. Colson suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during last week’s game against Phoenix. McDonald will be out with a fracture in a bone in his right foot, also occurring in the same match.

Despite having only nine active players and no pure point guards, Indiana defeated the Chicago Sky with a score of 92-70 on Saturday.

On Sunday, the Fever signed Odyssey Sims to an emergency contract. Sims averages 11.2 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.5 rebounds over her 11-year career, which includes an All-Star selection in 2019. Before her last injury, Clark, the WNBA Rookie of the Year last season, averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.0 rebounds. During the offseason, the Fever invested in building a supporting team for Clark with the goal of winning the title. Despite Clark’s absence, Indiana has an 18-14 record and is fifth in the standings, keeping them in the running for home-court advantage in the first round.