Caitlin Clark out with back injury

Caitlin Clark won’t be playing on Saturday, but at least she won’t have to deal with an injury to the throat. Instead, her focus will shift to recovering from a back injury.

Fever head coach Stephanie White confirmed that Clark will miss Saturday’s game due to this injury, stating that there’s “no indication” of when she might be back. There’s some concern, as sometimes these things can linger.

White emphasized the importance of prioritizing Clark’s health. “We’re taking this time to treat her properly and help her get back on the court,” she said during Friday’s practice. “Long-term health is really what matters here.”

Clark was sidelined late in the Fever’s loss to the Mercury on Wednesday. Though the back issue was first noted in May, it’s unclear when exactly it happened.

White expressed her disappointment regarding the lack of calls for what she described as “cheap shots” against Clark during that game, stating, “We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who took two cheap shots.” She feels it’s unacceptable that certain plays go unpenalized.

The situation escalated during a play involving Alyssa Thomas, where Thomas’s fist struck Clark in the neck. Surprisingly, no foul was initially called. However, following reviews, the league later issued a ruling against Thomas for reckless contact with a fine and a one-game suspension.

Injuries have been a recurrent issue for Clark throughout her career; she played only 13 games last season due to quadriceps and groin injuries. Now, despite the setbacks, Clark has managed to impress this season with the Fever holding a record of 10-8. She’s averaging a career-high 21.2 points per game, shooting a solid 43.0 percent from the field, and also recording 8.2 assists, which ranks second in the WNBA.