For the first time in her storied basketball career, Caitlin Clark won’t be suiting up on game night. The Indiana Fever‘s franchise centerpiece, known for her relentless motor and unmatched availability, is officially out with a left quad strain. And after 185 consecutive appearances across Iowa and Indiana, the streak has come to a screeching halt.
Clark, who built a reputation as one of the toughest and most durable players in the sport, has played through nearly everything. But this time, the signs were too glaring to ignore.
Subtle clues revealed the injury before fans knew the truth
Just days before the official announcement, Clark posted an uncharacteristic stat line against the Atlanta Dream, going 0-for-5 from beyond the arc.
For most players, an off night is just that. But for Clark-who had hit at least one three-pointer in every game since January 2022-that was a major red flag. It broke a 140-game streak of made threes. And for a player whose deep shooting is her signature weapon, it suggested something deeper might be wrong.
Then came the Fever’s razor-thin 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty-a game that pushed the limits of physicality. After that, the reality came to light.
“While many are enjoying this holiday week, the Fever got some bad news following Saturday’s close home loss to the Liberty,” Indiana Fever beat writer Scott Agness reported. “Caitlin Clark-who’s never missed a college or pro game-is going to be out. At least a couple of weeks. She’ll be re-evaluated after sustaining a left quad strain. A slight tear in her quad.”
According to head coach Stephanie White, Clark spoke up after the Liberty game and acknowledged pain in her left quad.
“Yes,” White confirmed when asked if the injury occurred after the Liberty matchup. An MRI later revealed a new strain-not a recurrence of her earlier preseason issue, but a separate tear.
This explains a lot. The missed shots, the reduced explosiveness, the labored cuts to the basket. Clark had been visibly pushing through discomfort for weeks.
Her absence in the Fever‘s May 3 preseason opener-also against the Washington Mystics-was originally chalked up to caution. Now, it’s clear that injury concerns have lingered since at least spring.
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