Caitlin Clark may be sidelined by injury once again, but that did not stop her from stealing the spotlight – this time off the court. Just hours after announcing her withdrawal from the WNBA All-Star Game and the Three-Point Contest due to a fresh groin injury, the Indiana Fever guard was seen partying the night away in downtown Indianapolis.
On Thursday night, as the league’s best gathered in Clark‘s new basketball home for All-Star Weekend, the 23-year-old showed little sign of distress as she joined other WNBA stars at INVY nightclub for the All-Star Champagne Launch Party.
Videos from the event quickly circulated across social media showing Clark dancing with a drink in hand, climbing behind the DJ booth, and gleefully shouting “woo!” into a microphone as she raised what appeared to be a hard seltzer into the air.
As Waka Flocka Flame’s “Grove St. Party” blasted through the speakers, Clark threw her arm into the air and embraced the crowd’s energy. But not everyone seemed thrilled by her carefree approach.
Aliyah Boston, the Fever‘s star forward, was caught on a livestream subtly removing Clark‘s drink from her hand once she noticed the cameras had locked onto her teammate. Fans quickly praised Boston online for looking out for Clark‘s image in a moment that could have easily spiraled.
Despite the gesture, Clark appeared undeterred, continuing to blow off steam as the night wore on. It was a sharp contrast to the devastating update she had shared just hours earlier.
Another setback, another withdrawal
Clark had re-injured her right groin during the final moments of Tuesday’s win over the Connecticut Sun. After delivering a late assist, she was seen walking gingerly down the court, clutching her inner thigh before collapsing onto the bench. She then buried her head in a towel and banged it against the basket stanchion – a visible display of frustration.
On Thursday, she confirmed her withdrawal from both marquee events of All-Star Weekend.
“I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate in the 3-Point Contest or the All-Star Game,” she said in a statement. “I have to rest my body.”
Despite her injury, Clark vowed to remain involved, saying she will still attend the festivities and support her All-Star team from the sidelines alongside coach Sandy Brondello of the Liberty.
“I’m gonna be active on the sidelines,” Clark told Good Morning America the following morning, appearing composed despite what had taken place less than 12 hours earlier. “It’s good to see everybody out here having a really good time… I gotta cheer these two on,” she added, gesturing to Boston and Kelsey Mitchell.
A mounting injury list, a rising concern
Clark has now missed 11 games this season due to injury, an alarming number for a player who never missed a game during her college career. Since entering the WNBA, she has battled multiple issues – including quad tightness, a quad strain, and injuries to both groins.
Fever coach Stephanie White confirmed that Clark underwent medical imaging on Wednesday and hinted that the results were not as bad as initially feared, though she deferred to the team’s medical staff for details.
Even with her popularity soaring and ticket sales surging across the league, Clark‘s durability is beginning to raise questions. The WNBA announced Brittney Sykes of Washington as her replacement in the All-Star Game, while Fever teammate Lexie Hull will step into the Three-Point Contest.
Meanwhile, Clark’s brother Colin joined the chaos, launching a slurred attack on officiating during a livestream. “Fix the reffing WNBA, it’s bad,” he muttered, adding more fuel to the fire.
What should have been a defining moment in Clark‘s early professional career has instead turned into another frustrating chapter. While her public appearance on GMA suggested optimism, her late-night club outing raised eyebrows – not only about her choices, but about the league’s unrelenting push to place her at the center of everything.
The cameras may have caught her smiling, dancing, and shouting into a mic – but beneath the flashing lights, Clark’s injury troubles remain unresolved.
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