The Indiana Fever have experienced a whirlwind start to their season, marked by on-court struggles, a coaching change, and now, the absence of their marquee rookie.
Caitlin Clark, the top overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, is expected to miss at least two weeks due to a left quadriceps strain, the first injury of her professional career.
How the Fever plan to stay competitive
This setback adds to a string of early-season challenges for the Fever, who currently sit near the bottom of the standings just four games in.
With Clark sidelined, head coach Stephanie White remains optimistic, pointing to the depth the team added in the offseason as a source of stability.
But the true test will come on the court, where veterans like Kelsey Mitchell are poised to take on even greater responsibility.
Mitchell, an eight-year veteran and one of the Fever’s top scorers, spoke candidly about Clark’s injury and the mindset within the locker room.
“I would like to think that she knows it (the support) is there and to really take her time to make sure she’s well enough to be who she needs to be for us because I want the 100% Caitlin,”Mitchell said.
Far from viewing Clark’s absence as a crisis, Mitchell highlighted the leadership already present on the roster.
“We’ve got a lot of seasoned vets on our team, so I don’t think it should be a drop-off in several areas,” she said.
“The mindset is to use it as fuel. Obviously, take the preparation we need. But I think the veteran leadership we have… hopefully, the idea is to keep that focus, no matter who’s playing or not.”
Mitchell and center Aliyah Boston, currently the Fever’s top scorers behind Clark, are expected to lead the charge offensively.
With defenses now able to zero in on Mitchell more closely, her ability to adapt will be crucial in navigating this stretch.
Indiana’s next test comes Wednesday on the road against the Washington Mystics.
If all goes well, Clark could return by June 10, when the Fever face the Atlanta Dream, a game that may mark a turning point in their young season.
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