Why didn't Caitlin Clark play? When Indiana Fever star may return
Here was Stephanie White with the latest on Clark, before last night's game vs Sparks: day-to-day pic.twitter.com/pa7NfnTqFs
Caitlin Clark missed her sixth game of the season on Thursday night in an eventual 85-75 Indiana Fever loss against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Clark has been ruled out of Friday night's contest at the Dallas Wings as well. It will be Clark's seventh game missed this season via injury. Why didn't Clark play against the Sparks and why won't she play against the Wings?
The 6-foot guard is sidelined with a groin injury. Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White commented on the potential timeline for Clark to return.
"Just day-to-day. It depends on a lot of her rehab and therapy and strength training and how that goes. Right now, it's just day-to-day," White said.
White said after Thursday's loss that the compacted schedule would factor into whether or not Clark would be available.
"Certainly, in my mind, it is," White said of the tight schedule. "At the same time, she has shown she's tough, and a quick healer, so we'll see."
Obviously, now fans know that they won't see Clark back out on the court until Tuesday night at the earliest. The Fever take on the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, July 1 in the Commissioner's Cup Championship at 7 p.m. CT on Amazon Prime Video presented by Coinbase.
After that, Indiana (7-8) hosts the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, July 3 at 6 p.m. CT on Amazon Prime Video.
Clark previously missed five games earlier this season with a left quadriceps strain. The Fever went 2-3 minus Clark in their games between May 28 and June 10.
Following that initial injury absence, Clark returned and erupted for 32 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including a career-high seven made 3-pointers in a 102-88 win over the New York Liberty. Clark played in five games after her initial injury absence, averaging 17.8 points per game.
But, Clark was in the midst of a three-game shooting slump when she suffered this latest groin injury. The former Iowa superstar made just 1-of-23 3-point attempts in her most recent three games played.
On the season, Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game on 39.0% shooting and 29.5% 3-point shooting in nine games played.
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