Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will miss her fourth consecutive game on Sunday due to a right groin injury, as the team travels to Chicago to face the Sky. Clark sustained the injury late in the Fever’s July 15 victory over the Connecticut Sun, and no official timetable has been announced for her return.
Medical Evaluations Confirm No Additional Damage
The Fever issued an update on Thursday confirming that Clark underwent additional medical tests earlier this week.
“[Clark] underwent further medical evaluations earlier this week, which confirmed that no additional injuries or damage were discovered.”
The team emphasized their focus on Clark’s recovery, stating she will
“continue working with the medical team on her recovery and rehabilitation, with the priority on her long-term health and well-being.”
Schedule Challenges and Uncertainty Around Clark’s Return
Following their upcoming game against the Chicago Sky, the Fever will conclude July with a home matchup against the Phoenix Mercury on July 30. They will then embark on a three-game road trip to the West Coast in early August. Whether Clark will be able to return during this stretch remains unclear, as the team prioritizes her full recovery.
Injuries Hinder Clark’s Second Season After Historic Rookie Year
Clark’s promising sophomore season has been significantly disrupted by injuries. She has appeared in only 13 games this year, missing time due to a left quad strain, a left groin injury, and now this right groin issue. These setbacks have forced her to sit out important events like the Commissioner’s Cup championship and the All-Star weekend in Indianapolis, her adopted home city.
Before this season, Clark had not missed a game due to injury since high school, making this period medically challenging for her. Speaking with Glamour during All-Star weekend, Clark reflected on the physical and mental adjustments she has had to make:
“This is the first time I haven’t felt like a young body that can run around and sprint every day and just continue to do that,”
she said.
“Being a professional athlete, you really have to take care of both your body and your mind — it’s been a journey learning about that.”
Struggles on the Court Amid Injury Recovery
When Clark has been able to play, she has struggled to replicate the dominant form that earned her All-WNBA First Team honors last season. Early highlights included a triple-double in the season opener and a near triple-double following her first injury. However, more recently, her shooting has fallen off significantly.
Clark has made only 7 of 49 three-point attempts in her last seven games, going three consecutive contests without a single made three-pointer. Overall this season, she is shooting 36.7% from the field and just 27.9% beyond the arc, with just 2 made threes out of 35 attempts on the road.
Impact on Team Performance with and Without Clark
Despite shooting difficulties, Clark continues to contribute impressive stats, averaging 16.5 points, 5 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game—the second-best average for assists in the league. The Fever perform noticeably better when she plays: they hold an 8-5 record with her on the court compared to 4-7 without her. The team’s offensive rating also drops from 108.6 to 100.4 in her absence.
Fever Fight to Maintain Playoff Position During Clark’s Recovery
As of Thursday, the Fever are sixth in the WNBA standings, holding a one-game lead over the Washington Mystics in ninth place. The team now faces the challenge of balancing Clark’s recovery timeline with the need to secure their position in the postseason race. Their hope is that Clark will return sufficiently healthy to help fuel a potential playoff run, even as the stretch run intensifies.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Was Caitlin Clark with Taylor Swift at the Chiefs game?
A. Caitlin Clark shared what she and Taylor Swift were quietly discussing during the Kansas City Chiefs game they both went to in January.
Q. Why did Taylor Swift invite Caitlin Clark to the game?
A. At Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Clark attended two events and met with Chiefs tight end and his mother, Donna Kelce. After hearing about Clark’s fandom through Kelce, Swift gifted the WNBA player several bags of Eras Tour merchandise, according to Time. She also wrote a letter inviting her to a Chiefs game.
Q. What is Caitlin Clark’s relationship with Taylor Swift?
A. A 23-year-old Swift fan went to the star’s Eras Tour in Indianapolis last November.
Earlier this year, the young fan and Swift attended a Kansas City Chiefs game.
In the crowd, they were seen hugging. Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, plays as a tight end for the Chiefs.
Q. Why was Caitlin Clark with Taylor Swift at the Chiefs game?
A. I love the Chiefs. Watching Taylor and seeing Travis Kelce do great during that game was fantastic—the Chiefs won in the playoffs. In May, Clark mentioned to ESPN that they discussed football during the Chiefs’ 23-14 victory against the Texans.