Caitlin Clark Gets Brutal Injury Update After On-Court Assault That Led To Suspension
It’s quite unfortunate that Caitlin Clark will not play for the Indiana Fever on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Sparks after a back injury sidelined the All-Star guard.
Clark dealt with back discomfort during Wednesday night’s game against the Phoenix Mercury. The injury came after Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas struck Clark in the throat with her fist during a play that officials first ruled a no-call. The incident led to frustration from the Fever and later led to league discipline.
Fever coach Stephanie White was clearly disappointed after the game. She questioned the consistency of officiating and said Clark does not receive the same calls as other players.
“Absolutely disrespectful. We spent all offseason looking at officiating, and I still say the one thing that we keep asking for is consistency,” White said. “[Clark] is not called the same way as everybody else is called. The fist in the throat is crazy. It’s crazy. It’s dangerous. … When you have these things continue to happen time and time and time again, eventually it gets frustrating.”
Fever Focus On Clark’s Recovery
White confirmed Friday that Clark will miss Saturday’s game. She also said the team will use next week’s break to help its star guard recover.
“She’s okay. She’s going to be out on Saturday,” White told reporters. “No indication [on how long she’s going to be out]. Obviously, it’s a good time since we have all week [off] next week. We’ll take this opportunity to get her treatment, get her healthy and get her back on the floor.”
Caitlin Clark is going to be out on Saturday, Steph White says.
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) June 26, 2026
“No indication” on how long she’ll be out, but White says their week off next week is a good time to get her treatment. pic.twitter.com/THPUQfekdv
The WNBA reviewed the play on Thursday and upgraded the contact to a Flagrant 2 foul. The league also suspended Thomas for one game after it ruled that she “recklessly” made contact with Clark’s throat. Thomas will serve the suspension when the Mercury visit the Toronto Tempo on Saturday. The suspension marks the first of her 13-year career.
Clark has managed back issues throughout the season. She missed the Fever’s May 20 win over the Portland Fire because of back soreness. She then appeared on the injury report as probable with the same issue in each of the next 13 games.
Earlier this season, Clark said she could not pinpoint a single moment when the problem started.
“I don’t think it necessarily started at a certain point,” Clark said in May. “I think it’s just been over the course of the last year when I’ve kind of been understanding my body more. … Still working through that, but I don’t think it’s anything of concern.”
Clark played only 13 games last season because of several injuries. She has already appeared in 17 games this season and has averaged 21.2 points, 8.2 assists, and 4.0 rebounds. The Fever now hope the extra recovery time helps her return to the court soon.
Caitlin Clark Gets Brutal Injury Update After On-Court Assault That Led To Suspension
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