Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is working her way back from a right groin injury that has sidelined her for 13 consecutive games, but it was revealed Wednesday she suffered another injury during her recovery.
Clark, who last suited up for the Fever on July 15, suffered a mild bone bruise in her left ankle during an individual workout session in Phoenix on Aug. 7, according to The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network. Clark tweaked her ankle the same day the team lost guards Sydney Colson (left ACL tear) and Aari McDonald (broken right foot) to season-ending injuries in the Fever’s 95-60 loss to the Mercury. Ten days later, the Fever also lost guard Sophie Cunningham (MCL tear) for the season on Aug. 17, further depleting the team’s backcourt.
There’s no timeline for Clark’s return. Fieldhouse Files was the first to report the news of Clark’s ankle injury.
On Wednesday, head coach Stephanie White confirmed Clark has not returned to practice, which would mark a crucial step in her ramp-up process. ‘Until (Clark) can get into practice and until you guys see her in practice, we’re really status quo,’ White said.
‘You never wanna see injuries happen, first and foremost,’ White added, referring to Cunningham. ‘You hate it when it’s anyone, let alone the third season-ending injury that we’ve seen this year. But like I told our team … yes, we’ve been dealt a crappy hand, but we have to play it.’
Clark, who previously missed time with a left quad and a left groin injury, has been sidelined 22 of the Fever’s 35 games this season. Indiana is 8-5 with Clark in the lineup and 11-11 without her on the floor.
The 2024 Rookie of the Year is averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and a career-high 8.8 assists in 13 games this season. Her assists average is the second-highest in the league, behind Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas (9.0).
Caitlin Clark injury timeline
- May 24: Clark suffered a left quad injury during the Fever’s 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty, where she recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. Clark couldn’t pinpoint the specific play that caused her injury, but noted that it happened early in the contest. Clark said, ‘Adrenaline covers up a lot of stuff when you’re in the heat of battle. After the game, I had some pain, and then we got an MRI, and that kind of gave me the result that I didn’t want to see.’ She missed the Fever’s next five games.
- June 14: Clark returned to Indiana’s lineup in the Fever’s 102-88 win over the Liberty and dropped 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in her first game back.
- June 24: Clark suffered a left groin injury in the Fever’s 94-86 win over the Seattle Storm, which resulted in Clark missing the team’s next four games. Fever coach Stephanie White said she learned of Clark’s groin injury the following night after Clark alerted team trainers of discomfort.
- July 1: Clark was ruled out of the Fever’s 2025 Commissioner’s Cup win over the Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis. That didn’t stop Clark from rightfully celebrating the team’s hardware.
- July 9: Clark returned to the Fever’s lineup in the Fever’s 80-61 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. Clark was limited to 10 points, shooting 4 of 12 from the field and 2 of 5 from the 3-point line, in addition to six assists, five rebounds and four turnovers. Following the blowout loss, Clark said it was ‘going to take me a second to get my wind back. … Just trying to get my legs under me.’
- July 15: Clark suffered a right groin injury in the final minute of the Fever’s 85-77 victory over the Sun at TD Garden in Boston. White later confirmed Clark ‘felt a little something in her groin.’ This marked the last game for which Clark suited up.
- July 18: Clark announced that she would sit out the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, where she was named a team captain. Clark was also set to participate in the 3-point contest. She said, ‘I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate … I have to rest my body.’
- July 24: The Fever said Clark’s medical evaluations confirmed there’s ‘no additional injuries or damage,’ but the team said it will be cautious with Clark’s rehab and recovery.
- August 7: Clark reportedly suffered a mild bone bruise in her ankle while during an individual workout session in Phoenix on Aug. 7, according to The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.
- August 8: During an appearance on Sue Bird’s podcast, ‘Bird’s Eye View,’ Clark spoke about the frustrations of her injury-filled season: “It’s not like I have a training camp to build up to play in my first game again. It’s like no, you’re tossed into Game 30 — like, ‘Go try to play well.’ It’s hard, it really is.”
- August 10: Fever coach Stephanie White said Clark has progressed in her recovery and has started running full court again, but Clark hasn’t returned to practice just yet: an important step in her ramp-up. ‘She’s been able to get a little bit more in her full-court running with all of her body weight… She’s been able to do a little more on the court in terms of how she moves, but not into practice yet,’ White said.
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