The Indiana Fever will start the WNBA season under the shadow of bad news: star player Caitlin Clark will miss the first preseason game against the Washington Mystics due to discomfort in her left leg, the team announced, causing concern among fans.
“Just a little stiffness. I’ll warm up and do whatever I need to do, and then they’ll decide if I play or not. But it will be the medical team’s decision,”Caitlin Clark explained about her injury.
Without making any strong statements, Stephanie White made it clear between the lines that Caitlin Clark‘s absence did not come as a surprise. With cautious answers and without going into details, she implied that the decision was based on a vision for the future. In that context, holding Clark out of Saturday’s game is seen as a prudent move to protect her long-term performance as the WNBA gets underway.
Will Indiana Fever suffer from Clark’s absence?
It’s odd because the Fever have a great roster, but Caitlin‘s injury is a pretty big blow, to the point that pundits are comparing Indiana to the Lakers because of their offensive dependence on Caitlin Clark and their weak defense, suggesting that they could avoid strong teams like the Aces, Liberty or Lynx in the playoffs due to lack of preparation.
And to some extent, the comparison makes sense. Indiana collapsed dramatically against the Mystics in a preseason game that left hearts broken and the stands silent.
The fans, plunged into anguish, point trembling fingers at the absence of their star, while the echo of the Lakers‘ recent debacle resonates like an open wound in their hopes. Is the comparison fair or an exaggeration?
The Caitlin Clark effect hits Indiana Fever and the fans know it
On social media, Fever fans have expressed tremendous concern about Caitlin‘s injury, and with good reason: she is the franchise’s biggest star, and her absence will clearly affect the team.
“The Indiana Fever without Caitlin Clark is a different team.”
“This team relies heavily on Clark, how sad.”
“We need Caitlin back as soon as possible.”
These are just some of the comments you could see on social media. Let’s hope Clark returns to the court soon, because we definitely want to see her in action.
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