Barclays Center might face disappointment yet again.
This isn’t about the home team, the Liberty, who are set to be at full strength as they head into the second half of the season. Instead, it’s the absence of Kate Rinklark that raises concerns for Tuesday’s game.
Rinklark, who sustained a significant groin injury during a match against the Sun last week, is undergoing further tests this week. ESPN reports she will likely miss her second consecutive regular season game.
The team’s coach, Stephanie White, said, “I hope we learn more about the path forward” when addressing the media on Sunday.
“I think she’s progressing,” White continued. “We’re still managing everything that needs attention… I don’t expect her to be ready for Tuesday, so we’re taking it incrementally, aiming to get her evaluations done earlier this week.”
Recently injured, Rinklark missed the Fever’s loss and was present only to attend All-Star Weekend festivities in Indianapolis, where she had planned to participate in her first professional 3-point contest.
The All-Star noted it was “certainly unfortunate” to miss out on the competition from the sidelines at Gainbridge Field House.
Rinklark has faced multiple injury setbacks this season, missing five games from May to June due to a left quad issue and subsequently missing four games because of a previous groin injury.
Though she returned quickly after that, she suffered another right groin injury that put her out for a total of ten regular season games this season.
Complicating matters further for the Fever, they’ve recently parted ways with Dewanna Bonner, now with the Mercury, marking a significant midseason roster change.
The Fever’s injury challenges are evident in their current 12-11 record, placing them sixth in the league standings.
Indiana is a mere 1.5 games away from slipping out of the playoff picture.
“We’re really just trying to navigate these issues,” White remarked. “These soft tissue injuries tend to linger, and it’s crucial they heal properly during the offseason. We’re taking this one step at a time, and as the team progresses, they’ll continue to grow together.”
