The Indiana Fever kept things vague with Caitlin Clark’s status heading into Tuesday’s game in Phoenix.
Clark has been sidelined since mid-July with a groin injury, but some fans and commentators believe the story runs deeper. Sports columnist Jason Whitlock blasted the lack of detail, even tying the situation to politics.
“They’ve turned Caitlin Clark into Joe Biden. No press conferences for 2 months. The cover-up is always worse than the crime. Her injury has been the weirdest thing I’ve seen in sports,” Whitlock posted on X.
The Fever are clinging to a playoff chance with just three games left after Tuesday, making the uncertainty around their star guard even more frustrating.
Coach Stephanie White addressed reporters before tip-off against the Mercury. She said Clark has returned to practice, though without contact, and didn’t give a timetable.
“That’s the hope,” White said when asked about a possible return. “She’s working as hard as she can. I think the long-term viewpoint of her health and wellness is the most important thing.”
Clark has dealt with multiple muscle issues since camp and has only played 13 games this season. The groin flare-up on July 15 knocked her out again, and she hasn’t suited up since.
Could Caitlin Clark be available against the Mystics?
While the Indiana Fever kept Caitlin Clark’s return behind the curtains, ESPN seemingly dropped a possible return date for the former Iowa guard. Their WNBA injuries page put September 7 as her possible return date.
That’s when Indiana plays the Washington Mystics, a game with major playoff stakes.
Even if she suits up, Clark would likely be on a minutes restriction after nearly two months off.
Indiana sits in a tight race with Golden State, Seattle, and Los Angeles for the last three postseason spots. With Clark, Aari McDonald, Sophie Cunningham, and Sydney Colson all missing time, the Fever have had to grind through the final stretch with a short rotation.
If Clark can return for the Mystics game, it could be just enough to tip the scales — but only if she’s cleared in time.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
