Caitlin Clark 'progressing,' but not expected to return for Fever's second-half opener on Tuesday
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White told reporters Sunday that the Fever star is unlikely to play when the team resumes its season on Tuesday and that she will undergo additional testing, per ESPN's Alexa Philippou. White reportedly said the team hopes to have a more clear timeline after the testing.
From ESPN:
"I think she's progressing," White said. "I think that we're continuing to address everything that needs to be addressed ... I don't expect her to be available on Tuesday, so we're just going to continue to take it one day at a time and let her get her evaluations early this week."
Clark has been out since aggravating her groin injury last Tuesday, the latest frustration in a disappointing season so far for the WNBA's biggest ratings draw. She missed five games between May and June with a quad injury, then four games with the original groin injury in late June.
The latest injury caused her to miss both the WNBA All-Star Game and 3-point contest, in which she figured to be the marquee attraction. The Fever hosted the All-Star festivities for the first time in the franchise's 26-year history and Clark's face was plastered throughout Indianapolis.
With its namesake and starter Sabou Sabally out, Team Clark was blown out by Team Collier in the All-Star Game. New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu emerged victorious in the 3-point contest.
At 12-11, the Fever sit in sixth-place in the overall WNBA standings, but are just a game and a half away from dropping out of the eight-team playoff field entirely. Indiana broke the league's longest playoff drought last year in Clark's historic rookie season, but was hoping to take a major step forward this year after the addition of veteran talent like Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham and DeWanna Bonner (not all of them worked out).
It's hard to imagine a serious run for the Fever without a 100% Clark, and we should have a better idea of how feasible that is after her testing this week.
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