Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White has delivered an encouraging update regarding rookie sensation Caitlin Clark's left quad strain. The injury, which will sideline Clark for a minimum of two weeks, was announced on Monday, May 26th, sending ripples through the WNBA and its fanbase.
Coach White emphasized a long-term approach to Clark's recovery, prioritizing her overall well-being and future contributions to the team. "Obviously, she's a competitor and wants to play. Obviously, everyone wants to watch her play. But for me, it's maintaining perspective," White stated. "It's making sure that we address this in a way that doesn't affect long term, that we take care of it, don't over-push, don't overexert, making sure that we take the long-game approach to this so that we're not having lingering issues throughout the course of the season. Sometimes great players don't tell you when they're hurting. I'm glad that she did, because we need to nip this in the bud."
White admitted she was unaware of when the injury occurred but Clark reported feeling pain in her leg after the Fever's 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty on May 24th. An MRI later revealed the strain. The coach also clarified that this injury is unrelated to the leg issue Clark faced during the preseason, where she sat out the May 3rd opener against the Washington Mystics.
The two-week absence means Clark will miss at least four games, beginning with the Fever's road game against the Washington Mystics on May 28th in Baltimore. Games against the Connecticut Sun (May 30th), Washington again (June 3rd), and a highly anticipated matchup against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky (June 7th) are also included in this timeframe. The team will re-evaluate Clark's condition after this initial two-week period, leaving open the possibility of further absence depending on the medical assessment.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, where Angel Reese plays, the upcoming Fever-Sky game on June 7th has taken on a different complexion. The game was originally moved to the United Center to accommodate a larger crowd eager to witness the clash between Clark and Reese. However, with Clark's injury, ticket prices have plummeted. According to TickPick, the get-in price for the June 7th game was $86 just 48 hours before the announcement, but has now dropped to $25.
The WNBA also recently concluded an investigation into alleged racist fan behavior directed towards Angel Reese during the May 17th game against the Fever. The league stated that it "did not substantiate" the report. This investigation was prompted by claims made on social media following the game where Clark was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul against Reese.
Despite Clark's absence, the Fever look to continue to improve with key players like Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston. The Fever sent a two-word message on social media, "Monday movement," accompanied by photos of the team's other star players.