Indiana Fever’s most recent game turned out to be a tough one for their star player, Caitlin Clark, who once again felt pain from the groin injury that had previously kept her off the court for five games. Now, it will also keep her from participating in the WNBA All-Star Game, which will be held this Saturday, July 19, at her home arena, Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
And that’s not all she’ll miss. Clark will also be unable to take part in the three-point shooting contest, disappointing the many fans who were eager to see her showcase her skills on her home court in front of a packed crowd.
Caitlin Clark’s replacement in the three-point contest
Stepping in to take Clark’s place in the three-point contest is her Indiana Fever teammate, Lexie Hull, who will represent the team in front of the home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. She’s expected to receive strong support from the local fans.
This marks the first time Hull-now in her fourth season in the league-will participate in this kind of individual event. She’ll be looking to make the most of the opportunity and let her game speak for itself this Friday, July 18.
So far this season, the Fever guard ranks fourth in the league in three-point shooting percentage, having hit 29 of 62 attempts for a 46.8% success rate. Last year, she was just 0.3% behind the league leader, finishing with an impressive 47.1% from beyond the arc.
Hull will be facing some tough competition: Sonia Citron of the Washington Mystics, Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream, Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty, and Kelsey Plum of the LA Sparks, who, notably, will not be playing in the All-Star Game itself.
Gray and Ionescu are the contest’s two most recent champions. Both are aiming to reclaim the title, and if either of them wins again, she’ll become a back-to-back three-point contest champion.
Sadness over not seeing Caitlin Clark
Having the All-Star Game in Indiana was a major incentive for fans of the Fever, who were looking forward to seeing Clark shine in front of her home crowd. But her injury setback has sidelined her from all the weekend’s action at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Clark has admitted to feeling upset about the situation, but she’s determined to support the team she captains with the same energy and passion she brings to the court. The goal remains to win and deliver a spectacular show for the fans in the arena and the millions watching on television.
This weekend’s All-Star showcase in Indiana will be something special, as the revamped format adds more excitement and allows long-standing league matchups to finally take center stage.
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