Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark Ejected from Preseason Game

During a preseason game against the Dallas Wings on Thursday night, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was ejected after an on-court collision. The incident occurred in the third quarter when Clark made a step-back three-pointer and landed on the feet of Wings defender Alana Smith.

After hitting the ground, Clark was visibly shaken, stating to reporters later that he had a hard fall and hit his knee. He attempted to get to the Fever bench but ended up rolling on the court. The officials reviewed the play and ultimately assessed Smith, a recognized defensive player, with a flagrant one foul for not giving Clark a safe landing space.

Clark left the game with just under eight minutes remaining in the third quarter. Despite only playing part of the second half, he managed to score a team-high 21 points, shooting 2 for 3 from beyond the arc and hitting 11 of 13 free throws. In addition, she contributed two rebounds, four assists, and one steal.

This preseason matchup had Fever fans holding their breath, particularly given Clark’s troubled season in 2025. In that year, she played only 13 games, quite a drop from her impressive Rookie of the Year season in 2024 when she set the single-season assists record.

Lucky for Clark, it appears she avoided any serious injuries from the fall. Being in someone’s landing zone can lead to significant injuries, particularly involving the ankle. Fever head coach Stephanie White chose to keep Clark on the sidelines for the remainder of the game, opting not to risk further injury.

The Fever still have one more preseason game on their schedule, set to face the Nigerian national team on Saturday. After that, it will be regular-season action, beginning with a matchup against the same Wings on May 9th.

The Wings are an exciting team this year, especially with the addition of first overall pick Aji Fudd, who will be playing alongside her former college teammate Paige Bueckers. In the recent game, Bueckers scored 20 points, while Fudd contributed four to the effort.