Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark left Thursday night’s preseason game against the Dallas Wings after colliding with a Wings player. Clark was seen hobbling on the court after a step-back three-pointer in the third quarter and landing on Wings defender Alanna Smith’s foot, according to game footage and reports.
Clark told reporters after the game that she hit her knee hard when she went down after the foul. She rolled on the court and attempted to walk off before being helped to the bench. A review by officials resulted in Smith, the reigning co-Defensive Player of the Year, being assessed a Flagrant 1 foul for not providing enough space for Clark to land safely.
Clark exited the game with less than eight minutes remaining in the third quarter. Despite missing most of the second half, she finished with a team-high 21 points, hitting two of three three-pointers and 11 of 13 free throws. She also contributed two rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
The preseason game was a tense moment for Fever fans, especially given Clark’s tumultuous 2025 season, which limited her to 13 games after winning WNBA Rookie of the Year and setting the single-season assists record in 2024. Coaches and team officials indicated Clark avoided a serious injury that could have been much worse.
Fever head coach Stephanie White opted to sit Clark for the remainder of the game. The team has one more preseason contest scheduled against the Nigerian national team on Saturday before opening the regular season on May 9 in Dallas against the Wings. The Wings feature No. 1 overall draft pick Azzi Fudd, who reunited with UConn teammate Paige Bueckers. Bueckers led the Wings with 20 points Thursday, while Fudd scored four.
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Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
