Caitlin Clark Overcomes Illness to Lead Fever to Victory
Caitlin Clark didn’t allow a bout of illness to stop her from playing a crucial role in the Fever’s victory on Thursday.
Just before the second half of Indiana University’s 83-71 win over the Dream, Clark had to step off the court to be sick.
The 24-year-old was warming up before the third quarter when she had to briefly halt her routine. She later mentioned on-air that she was “not feeling well.”
After the game, she shared with reporters that she “felt a little sick” but was doing better in the second half.
“I tried to eat some applesauce, but it didn’t stay down,” Clark recounted. “Other things came out as well. I was hoping it would settle, but thankfully I found a trash can. It’s been a while since I’ve thrown up like that, but afterward, I felt better.”
Despite her unfortunate incident, her performance remained strong, ending the game with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists.
“I felt lighter,” she remarked, reflecting on her condition post-vomiting. “We were really running well in the second half.”
Before the game, Clark was listed as likely to play due to some ongoing issues, yet there hadn’t been prior mention of her feeling unwell.
In her pre-game statements, she mentioned feeling good and was eager to hit the court after recovering from an injury.
“I’m feeling great. I played a lot of Catan and Scrabble this week,” Clark noted. “Last night, I went out to dinner with friends and watched Game 1 of the NBA Finals, which was a blast.”
She elaborated, “I’ve watched a lot of film since, but I’m excited to be back on the field.”
Additionally, Clark was questioned about her on-court demeanor after a tense moment with Fever head coach Stephanie White during a recent loss to the Fire. She acknowledged the need to improve her body language but emphasized that her fiery personality is part of her appeal to fans.
“That’s something we can always work on,” Clark admitted. “I’m competitive, and I think that edge is part of what makes me good.”
“The competitive fire, the drive, the passion and joy— that’s what people come to see. That’s what they love about me,” she added, recognizing that her mannerisms might not always be graceful.
Clark concluded, “Sometimes they may cross the line, but that doesn’t make you a bad person or teammate.”
