Fever gain clarity on Caitlin Clark's status, move forward without her in the interim
While Caitlin Clark is out indefinitely, the Indiana Fever now have the clarity they need to move forward — and others are stepping up, including Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham.
Six hours before the Indiana Fever defeated the Las Vegas Aces for the second time in a row, the team received much-needed clarity regarding its star player.
Starting guard Caitlin Clark would be out indefinitely.
No, they didn’t say it that way. Officially: “There is no timetable available for Clark’s return,” the team said in a statement. “Clark will continue working with the Fever medical team on her recovery and rehabilitation, with the priority on her long-term health and well-being.”
In the short term, it’s disappointing for fans who want to see the Fever at full strength, led by Clark. However, it also provides a sense of relief and focus for the team — something likely missing during the first three months of the season.
There’s no more daily speculation. They now have clarity: don’t expect Clark back until further notice.
“I think that's big,” head coach Stephanie White agreed. “Just the mindset of our group, to know that we've got what we've got. To continue to grow and connect in those ways.
“And is she available? Is she not available? Will she practice? Will she not practice? And sort of the disruption that comes with some of that. So there's clarity. And I think that's good for everybody. It's good for Caitlin, too. So she doesn't feel any kind of way. She can just approach and attack her rehab one day at a time.”
Everyone wants her to return as soon as possible, but that must come only when Clark’s body has healed and she feels both comfortable and confident. This is a new experience for her — dealing with multiple injuries and missing extended time. There’s no question she wants to be out there.