Indianapolis, Indiana
AP
—
Caitlin Clark will miss the rest of the Indiana Fever’s season because of a right groin injury.
“I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season,” Clark stated in a assertion. “I spent hours in the gymnasium each day with the singular objective of getting again on the market, dissatisfied isn’t a sufficiently big phrase to describe how I’m feeling. I would like to thank everybody who had my again via all the uncertainty.
“This has been incredibly frustrating, but even in the bad, there is good. The way the fans continued to show up for me, and for the Fever, brought me so much joy and important perspective. I am so proud of how this team has only gotten stronger through adversity this year. Now it’s time to close out the season and claim our spot in the playoffs.”
Clark was injured late in a July 15 sport towards the Connecticut Sun, and later sustained a bone bruise. The former Iowa star averaged 16.5 factors, 8.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 13 video games in her second season in the WNBA.
“Caitlin has worked so hard throughout this time, doing everything possible to recover and return to the court but, ultimately, time is not on our side,” Fever COO and GM Amber Cox stated in a assertion. ”While we’ll proceed working with Caitlin and supply her with each useful resource we’ve obtainable, there may be not sufficient time left in our season for her to safely return, and her long-term well being and well-being stays our high precedence. We are wanting ahead to having her again at full energy to begin the 2026 season.”
The 2024 Rookie of the Year had been attempting to get again to assist her workforce attain the postseason for a second straight 12 months. She participated in full-court drills with out protection throughout a shootaround earlier than the Fever confronted the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday evening. Coach Stephanie White stated Thursday at follow that Clark hasn’t completed a lot contact work but.
Indiana is presently in eighth place in the standings, 1 1/2 video games in entrance of Los Angeles with three video games to play.
It has been a tough season for Clark, who additionally handled accidents to her left quad and left groin. This was the first time she’s had injury points. She by no means missed a sport in her collegiate profession at Iowa or her first 12 months in the WNBA.
The Fever have misplaced 5 gamers for the season with accidents now together with Clark. Fellow guards Sydney Colson (knee), Aari McDonald (foot) Sophie Cunningham (knee) and ahead Chloe Bibby (knee) are additionally out.
Clark has helped girls’s basketball develop in each faculty and the WNBA. The league had document attendance this season even with Clark lacking most of the season.