Stephanie White gives uncertain Caitlin Clark injury update before Fever-Sun game
· Yahoo Sports
Stephanie White gives uncertain Caitlin Clark injury update before Fever-Sun game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Indiana Fever have one game remaining before the WNBA All-Star break, but head coach Stephanie White still does not know how much Caitlin Clark will be allowed to play.
Visit mchezo.life for more information.
Clark has operated under a minutes restriction while managing the back injury that has bothered her throughout the season. She has missed four games because of the issue and has played fewer than 30 minutes in each of her five appearances since returning to the lineup. With Indiana preparing to host the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday, White was asked whether Clark’s minutes restriction would finally be lifted.
“I have no idea,” White said Monday, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. “It’s one day at a time.”
The answer may be frustrating for Fever fans eager to see Clark return to a full workload, but Indiana has consistently prioritized the guard’s long-term health over maximizing her minutes in July.
Caitlin Clark remains limited despite historic performance
Clark’s restriction did not prevent her from making WNBA history against the Seattle Storm on Friday. The three-time All-Star erupted for a franchise-record 45 points while adding 10 assists, four steals and two blocks in Indiana’s 110-107 victory. She became the first player in WNBA history to record at least 40 points and 10 assists in the same game.
Clark delivered that historic performance in only 29 minutes. She returned to the court less than 24 hours later as the Fever completed a back-to-back set against the New York Liberty. Clark played 26 minutes in the 108-88 victory, finishing with 17 points and seven assists while Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 33 points.
Playing both ends of a back-to-back represented an encouraging step for Clark. It did not, however, convince the Fever to immediately remove every restriction. Clark has averaged 20.7 points, 7.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds over 22 appearances this season. She is playing 29.3 minutes per game, down from the 35.4 minutes she averaged during her second WNBA season.
Her recent workload has been even lighter. Clark has played 29 or fewer minutes in each of Indiana’s past five games, including only 16 minutes in a July 8 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.
MORE: Slow-motion video of Paige Bueckers’ frightening fall raises concern after Wings win
Fever have one more game before All-Star break
Indiana will host Connecticut at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday, July 22. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET and will air on USA Network. The Fever enter the matchup with a 16-10 record after consecutive victories over Seattle and New York. Indiana is tied with the Atlanta Dream for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Connecticut, meanwhile, is 7-19 and sits at the bottom of the conference standings. On paper, the matchup could give Indiana another opportunity to manage Clark’s workload before the All-Star break. White’s update, however, indicates the Fever are not committing to a predetermined plan.
Clark’s health and availability will continue to be evaluated daily. Whether that leads to an increased workload against Connecticut may not be decided until much closer to tipoff.
More WNBA news:
- Slow-motion video of Paige Bueckers’ frightening fall raises concern after Wings win
- Sophie Cunningham shares perfect message with young athletes at basketball camp
- Caitlin Clark’s reaction to historic 45-point game should scare WNBA rivals
- Caitlin Clark reveals mindset behind historic 45-point performance against Storm