Caitlin Clark is out for tonight’s game against the New York Liberty.
The Indiana Fever star was listed as questionable earlier Wednesday after suffering an injury late in Tuesday night’s win over the Connecticut Sun in Boston. A team press release sent later Wednesday afternoon downgraded Clark to out.
Clark showed visible discomfort after she first twisted her body to push off a defending Leila Lacan, then twisted again to bounce the ball to Kelsey Mitchell for a basket with 39 seconds left. As she turned around, she grabbed near her right groin area, her eyes welling up in tears.
Connecticut called a timeout at the same time, and Clark walked over to the stanchion, hit her head against it, then walked to the Fever’s bench, still holding the area. She was visibly crying, her eyes red, and she put a towel over her head for the rest of the game.
Wednesday night’s game is the final game before the All-Star break. Earlier Tuesday, the WNBA confirmed Clark’s participation in Friday’s 3-point shooting contest ahead of Saturday’s All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Participation in both may now be in jeopardy.
Because of her “out” designation on the injury report, Clark will not be made available to media.
“I think we just take it one step at a time,” Fever coach Stephanie White said postgame Tuesday. “We’ll get some food, get on the plane, and start talking about New York. She’s being evaluated, we’ll see where we are with that, and certainly we’ll have another evaluation, probably in conversation in the morning, and see where we are. But, you know, this group has played without her, we’ve at least got experience in that. We know that we have a tough opponent in New York, and we know it’s going to be a challenge no matter what.”
This is Clark’s fourth muscle injury since the start of the preseason, and she’s missed nine regular-season games so far this season, as well as the Commissioner’s Cup final.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Caitlin Clark downgraded to out for tonight’s Fever vs. Liberty game; status for All-Star unknown
Reporting by Matthew Glenesk and Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
