Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark will miss her sixth consecutive game on Friday due to a right groin injury, as the team prepares to face Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings. Clark sustained the injury during the Fever’s victory over the Connecticut Sun on July 15 and currently has no set date for a return, highlighting ongoing concerns about her availability this season.
Medical Evaluations Confirm No Further Damage
The Fever provided an update on Clark’s condition on July 24, revealing that she underwent additional medical assessments earlier in the week. These tests confirmed that no new injuries or complications were found related to her groin issue. The organization emphasized that Clark will continue her rehabilitation efforts with the medical team, prioritizing her long-term recovery and overall health.
“underwent further medical evaluations earlier this week, which confirmed that no additional injuries or damage were discovered.”
—Indiana Fever Official Statement
“continue working with the medical team on her recovery and rehabilitation, with the priority on her long-term health and well-being.”
—Indiana Fever Official Statement
Upcoming Road Games Add Uncertainty to Clark’s Return
Following Wednesday’s game, Indiana is set to continue a four-game road trip that extends into early August, facing opponents including the Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks, and Phoenix Mercury. With the team away from their home court during this stretch, it remains uncertain whether Clark will receive medical clearance to return while traveling.
Injury Troubles Hamper Clark’s Sophomore Season
After an outstanding rookie year that earned her Rookie of the Year honors, Clark’s second season has been significantly disrupted by injuries. Besides the current right groin issue, she has missed time due to a left quad strain and a separate left groin injury, limiting her to just 13 games. These setbacks have caused her to miss major events like the Commissioner’s Cup championship and the All-Star weekend held in her current home city of Indianapolis.
Prior to this season, Clark had not experienced any game absences from injury since high school, making this period of rehabilitation a new and challenging experience for the young star.
“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,”
Clark said during All-Star weekend in an interview with Glamour.
“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.”
—Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever Guard
Performance Struggles Amid Limited Court Time
When Clark has returned to the floor, she has struggled to regain the dominant form that placed her on the All-WNBA First Team last year. Aside from an impressive triple-double in the Fever’s season opener and a strong 32-point, eight-rebound, nine-assist outing after her first injury, her recent performances have been marked by a significant shooting slump.
Clark has made only 7 of 49 three-point attempts over her last seven games and failed to hit a three-pointer in three different matches. Her current shooting percentages reflect these struggles, with a 36.7% field goal rate overall and just 27.9% from beyond the arc. Notably, her road shooting has been particularly poor, connecting on just 2 of 35 three-point shots away from Indianapolis.
Clark’s Impact Remains Vital Despite Scoring Challenges
Despite the shooting difficulties, Clark continues to contribute significantly across the board, averaging 16.5 points, five rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game, which ranks second in the league for assists. The Fever’s performance metrics underscore her importance: the team holds an 8-5 record with Clark playing compared to 7-7 without her, and the team’s offensive rating drops from 108.6 to 102.2 when she is off the court.
Fever’s Playoff Aspirations Hinge on Clark’s Recovery
As of Friday, the Fever occupy the sixth spot in the standings, maintaining a two-game lead over the ninth-place Washington Mystics. With the regular season entering its critical stretch, Indiana faces the delicate challenge of allowing Clark the necessary time to fully recover and reach peak condition, while also keeping the team competitive enough to secure a postseason position. The balance between cautious rehabilitation and on-court readiness will be crucial in determining both Clark’s impact and the Fever’s playoff fate.