Indiana Fever fans have reason to celebrate as star guard Caitlin Clark is expected to make her return to the court on Wednesday against the Golden State Valkyries. The highly anticipated comeback follows a five-game absence due to a groin injury that has sidelined her since June 26. This marks the second injury Clark has faced this season, having previously missed five games because of a quad strain.
Fever head coach Stephanie White addressed the media after Tuesday's practice, stating that, barring any setbacks, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year will be available to play. Clark herself expressed her excitement about rejoining her teammates. "It's just nice to get back out there and get in the flow of playing with my teammates again," Clark said. "It's going to be fun to get back out there hopefully and just feel things again".
While Clark is eager to play, she and Coach White are being cautious about her playing time. Clark hopes to play "in the upper 20s" when it comes to minutes, but recognizes it will depend on how she feels, the flow of the game, and what the team needs. She also acknowledged the difficulty of watching from the sidelines and her eagerness to contribute again. "It's obviously hard sitting out and watching for a few weeks, so I'm definitely excited to get back out there," Clark said.
In the nine games she has played this season, Clark has been a significant contributor, averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 33.20 minutes per game. Her return is expected to provide a boost to the Fever, who currently hold a 9-9 record and sit seventh in the WNBA standings. The Fever won the Commissioner's Cup without Clark in the lineup.
Clark's initial diagnosis of the groin injury was considered less severe than her earlier quad strain. She was initially listed as day-to-day, compared to being immediately ruled out for two weeks with the quad injury.
Caitlin Clark also spoke about her approach to the game upon her return, "I don't know what the type of minutes I'm gonna get will look like, but just when I'm out there, compete, play hard...Just being aware and active, [and] bring energy".
