Indiana Fever standout Caitlin Clark, sidelined with a lingering groin injury, was spotted snacking on the bench during Indiana‘s recent road win over the Seattle Storm on Sunday.
While Clark continues her absence from the court, her presence on the sidelines has become a talking point in its own right.
The image of Clark eating during the Seattle victory caused commentators to lean into humor.
ESPN’s broadcaster Ryan Ruocco made sure to point out Clark‘s unmistakable sideline snack session during a recent broadcast: “Caitlin Clark snacks A LOT on the bench,” the commentary teased, with viewers curious about whether that was candy or something else.
“She doesn’t hide the snacks, her dad did, though,” a second commentator added while laughing.
“That’s right, her dad had the secret snack [stash].”
How the supporting cast has stepped up
Though Clark couldn’t contribute on the hardwood, the Fever have surged in her absence, riding a fivegame win streak fueled by strong efforts from Aliyah Boston, Sophie Cunningham, Natasha Howard, and newcomer Aari McDonald.
The team’s chemistry and bench depth have stepped up to carry the load.
Center Aliyah Boston continues to dominate the glass and make plays, recently posting another stellar double-double to help clinch the latest win.
Sophie Cunningham has emerged as a spark plug off the bench. She turned in a high-energy performance in the 78-74 victory over Seattle, helping Indiana extend its current win streak to five with 17 points in the latest clash, and earning rave reviews from both media and fans.
And then there’s Aari McDonald, whose journey this season has been nothing short of impressive.
After joining Indiana on a hardship exemption and then making her way onto the official roster, McDonald has delivered consistent playmaking.
She dropped a careerhigh 27 points to lead Indiana past the Phoenix Mercury, propelling the Fever to their third straight win in that span.
Over her starts, she’s contributed roughly 8.8 points and 5 assists per game, giving the team a dependable secondary creator
The Fever‘s fivegame streak comes amid a turbulent year for Clark. She first missed time with a left quadriceps strain announced on May 26, which sidelined her for about two weeks.
She later returned in mid-June to lead a win over New York with 32 points, hitting seven triples and helping Indiana surpass 100 points for the first time this season in a 102-88 victory.
However, she suffered a right groin injury on July 15 that has kept her out for several games and as of early August remains unresolved with no firm return timetable.
Read the full article here
