INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark will not play against the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday because a back injury, Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White said at practice Friday.
“She’s OK,” White said when asked about Clark’s condition. “She’s going to be out on Saturday.”
Clark left Wednesday’s game with 5:15 left in the third quarter, went to the locker room, and did not return against the Phoenix Mercury. White did not say what specifically prompted Clark to leave the game, but she did look to tweak her back after landing on a defender’s foot in the second quarter. She fell to the ground after that foul, which was not upgraded, and grabbed at her back before gingerly walking to the bench. She still stayed in the game directly after, shooting her free-throws.
Just before that foul, she also got a fist to the throat from Alyssa Thomas in a skirmish for the ball — one that Thomas was later given a Flagrant 2 by the WNBA and suspended for one game.
Check out Caitlin Clark jerseys, hoodies and more
Clark has been dealing with back issues the entire season; she missed Indiana’s game against Portland on May 20 because of her back, then she was listed as probable (back) for the next 13 games after the Fever were warned by the WNBA for improper injury reporting.
White did not have a specific timeline on how long Clark will be out. The Fever play on Saturday, then will have eight days off because of a league break for the Commissioner’s Cup championship. After Saturday, Indiana’s next game in on July 5, on the road against the Aces.
“No indication,” White said. “But it’s a good time, because we have off all week next week, so we’ll take this opportunity just to get her treatment, get her healthy, and see what happens. Long-term health and wellness is the most important.”
Clark has had bad luck with injuries since 2025, when she was limited to 13 games because of various injuries to her quad, left groin, right groin, and ankle. She became “100% healthy” following the 2025 season, participating in a Team USA Senior National Team camp in December 2025, and made her return to 5-on-5 with the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico in March.
Now, it’s another setback for the Fever superstar — physically and mentally.
“We want her to be healthy, physically, mentally, emotionally, all of the things,” White said. “I think it’s important to remember, again, when you’ve gone through injury and the traumatic aspect of injury, especially with what she had last year, it’s ups and downs, physically, mentally, emotionally, and making sure that she’s 100% ready to go is the most important thing.”
Fishers native and backup guard Tyasha Harris will start for the Fever in Clark’s place Saturday. Harris, who saw her playing time diminish behind rookie Raven Johnson this season, is averaging 1.8 points and 1.5 assists in 13 games so far. Harris also started when Clark was out in May.
“We’re anticipating starting Ty,” White said. “We’ll get an opportunity to look at her today in practice … certainly, you can’t duplicate what Caitlin brings to the floor, and no one person is going to do that. So, everybody just has to give a little bit more, and we need to collectively elevate.”
This story was updated with new information.
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at chloe.peterson@indystar.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Caitlin Clark to miss time after injury vs Mercury. Local to start for Fever vs Sparks
Reporting by Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
