Caitlin Clark’s second WNBA season has been a rough ride for both her and the Indiana Fever. The 23-year-old has missed nearly as many games (11) as she’s played (12) this year, not counting two that don’t hit the stats sheet: the Commissioner’s Cup Championship-where the Fever beat Minnesota, the league’s top team so far-and this weekend’s All-Star game, where she was the most-voted player ever.
The trouble? She’s racked up three injuries in just over two months. It started with a left groin strain that sidelined her for five games, followed by a left quad issue costing another five, and now a fresh groin injury has already knocked her out for one game before the All-Star break, the ASG itself, and tomorrow’s matchup against the New York Liberty.
It’s wild to think she might not have fully shaken that first hit, especially since “injury” was a foreign word in her career-she went unscathed through 139 college games and her Rookie of the Year season. For the Fever and coach Stephanie White, the second half of the season looks like a steep climb. Can they keep their All-Star healthy while snagging a postseason spot? It’s a tough balancing act with a 12-11 record-nothing’s locked down in Indiana yet.
Coach White Faces a Tricky Call on Clark’s Return
Head coach Stephanie White has her hands full. She is planning to get a second opinion on Clark’s groin injury, which puts the Fever in a real bind. Clark is a game-changer, and her presence could make or break the rest of the season. However, rushing her back could make things worse, and her long-term future is on the line, too.
The smart move? Sit her out against New York, and proceed with caution until they’re certain she won’t exacerbate the injury. Forget the ratings hype or playoff seeding worries-Clark is too vital to the Fever’s future to risk further injury. She’s already dealt with four muscle problems this year, so something’s off. The team needs to ease her back carefully.
The lineup data offers a glimmer of hope: The Fever’s net rating drops to +1.63 without Clark, far from +9.74 with her, but they still outscore their opponents. They’re not thriving, just surviving. The big question is how long they can hold her out before she needs tune-up minutes for the playoffs. Maybe a second opinion will buy a week or two, and she’ll return at full strength-who knows? I’m no doctor, just an observer!
Season Restart Brings Uncertainty and a Rivalry Showdown
The season picks back up tomorrow, July 22, with five games, including the Fever’s clash with the Liberty, and there’s no clear timeline for Clark’s return. Her stats have taken a hit since that first injury: 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.0 rebounds over 13 games, with five double-doubles, but she’s gone seven games without 20 points (six under 15) and shot a rough 5.71% (2-of-35) from three on her last five road games-rough for her usual standard.
Last year, though, the Fever flipped the script post-break, with Clark averaging 23.1 points and 8.9 assists in the final 14 games, giving fans some optimism. Right now, her recovery’s the top priority-these setbacks are dragging down both her and the team. I’d bet her best shot to return is July 27 against the Chicago Sky and Angel Reese, a matchup that’s become must-see TV since last year. The Sky’s struggling in the standings, but Reese is on fire, hitting the best stretch of her career, while Clark’s stuck in her roughest patch yet.
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