DALLAS – Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White announced that guard Caitlin Clark remains “day to day” as she continues to recover from a left groin injury. Clark will miss her second consecutive game as the team prioritizes her long-term health over accelerating her return to the court.
White emphasized the importance of a cautious approach, stating that anyone familiar with similar injuries understands that recovery can be a process. “She’s a quick healer, and she’s been doing everything she can to get back on the floor. We just want to make sure we’re hyper-sensitive to the big picture,” White said.
The Fever’s schedule is demanding, with their next game set for Tuesday against the Minnesota Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup Championship in Minneapolis, followed by a home game against the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday. This will mark the beginning of a demanding stretch of five home games over eleven days.
Aari McDonald will start in place of Clark, with Sydney Colson coming off the bench. White expressed hope that McDonald’s dynamic play and defensive energy would help the Fever start strong against their opponents. Clark’s absence follows a disappointing performance on a recent western road trip, where she struggled from the three-point line, going just 1-for-23 in her last three games.
This is the first time Clark has missed games due to injury in her collegiate or professional career, which raises concerns for a Fever team aiming for a significant playoff run. White acknowledged the disappointment for fans wanting to see Clark perform at her best but reiterated that player health must come first.
The Fever shifted Friday’s game from the usual 7,000-seat College Park Center to the much larger 20,000-seat American Airlines Center, but White insisted that the team’s focus remains on health rather than external pressures.
Despite the challenges, there is optimism surrounding Clark’s eventual return, as the Fever are committed to supporting her recovery journey while continuing to compete on the court. This careful management may ultimately benefit the team in the long run as they look to remain contenders in the league.