Kate Clark is set to make her return to the WNBA as the Indiana Fever prepares to face the undefeated New York Liberty this Saturday afternoon. She initially suffered a strained quadriceps during a close 90-88 loss to the Fever on May 24, leading to her missing about two weeks and sitting out five games over three weeks.
Interestingly, despite being away from the court, Clark’s shooting abilities seem intact. Following the Fever’s announcement that she was cleared to play this weekend, the team shared a video of the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year making impressive shots from the logo during a recent pre-game half-court event.
In a playful moment, Clark celebrated by tossing her training jersey in the air and jokingly suggested that her teammates should “cry.” She also showcased a trophy she had recently won, adding to the excitement around her return.
While Clark is cleared to return, it’s somewhat unclear how much playing time she will actually receive. She mentioned to reporters that getting back in sync with her teammates has been a journey. “It was definitely a process,” she stated. “It’s hard when you feel good but have to navigate getting back into action.” Nonetheless, her enthusiasm for returning is palpable.
On social media, the Fever reassured fans with a post stating, “She’s back… Caitlin Clark is ready to play New York tomorrow.” Head coach Stephanie White noted earlier in the week that the team was preparing for a “backup” but didn’t explicitly confirm whether Clark was fully cleared for all basketball activities. She mentioned that both Clark and teammate Sophie Cunningham, who also missed time, had limited practice participation.
This season, Clark has averaged 19 points, 9.3 assists, and six rebounds in the games she played. As the excitement builds around her return, fans are eager to see how she performs against the Liberty.
