Caitlin Clark was sidelined from Wednesday night’s game against the Portland Fire due to a back injury, marking her first missed contest of the season, according to the Indiana Fever. The team still secured a 90-73 victory without her. Clark’s absence raised questions about her availability for Friday’s game against the Golden State Valkyries, but she was back in the lineup two days later.
Clark was not listed on the Fever’s injury report Thursday, despite missing practice the previous day. She returned to score 22 points and added nine assists in Indiana’s 90-82 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year narrowly missed a double-double, and in the third quarter, she made a three-pointer from beyond the arc.
Fever center Aliyah Boston contributed with 20 points and 16 rebounds, earning a double-double Friday night. The teams are scheduled to meet again Thursday in San Francisco, switching venues for the rematch.
Clark’s injury concerns come after a challenging year in 2025, which limited her to 13 games due to a groin strain and ankle bone bruise. The former NCAA scoring leader has also announced the upcoming release of her children’s book, “EXTRAordinary! A Little EXTRA to Reach BIG Dreams,” scheduled for November. Clark says the book draws from her life, which she describes as “like few others.”
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
