Injury Delays Caitlyn Clark’s Return to Brooklyn
Caitlyn Clark will need to wait another week before heading back to Brooklyn.
Clark has been sidelined due to a right groin injury following a recent loss to Liberty at Barclays Center, leaving the team without their star player and casting doubt on her availability for the WNBA All-Star Festival this weekend.
This marks the 11th game she has missed this season, quite a contrast to her rookie year in 2024, where she didn’t miss a single game and also maintained a solid presence for all four seasons she played at Iowa.
The injury flared up with just 40 seconds left in the game against the Sun at TD Garden. She was trying to maneuver around two defenders when she seemed to feel the strain, continuing her way back toward the court.
Once at the basketball post, she slapped her head in frustration before turning toward the Indiana bench.
Head coach Stephanie White mentioned in a post-game interview that Clark had just returned on July 9 after missing five games due to a left groin issue. “I felt a bit of something in her groin,” she noted, reflecting on Clark’s earlier struggles with quad issues at the beginning of the year.
“This group has played without her,” White added. “At least I’ve got that experience. I understand New York poses tough challenges, and it’ll be a test for us regardless.”
In a season where the team aims to position itself as a contender against Freedom and Links, Clark’s absence complicates their strategy, particularly as they look towards the WNBA’s biggest markets.
Indiana is set to travel to Brooklyn again on Tuesday.
Last year, Clark had her breakout moment at Barclays Center, scoring 22 points in a game on May 18, which generated $2 million in ticket sales, setting a WNBA record.
She faced a tough return two weeks later, managing just three points, but the buzz surrounding her performance remained palpable.
Now, she finds herself on the bench once more, grappling with yet another injury. Although her stats this season (16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game) mirror last year’s, the context reveals a tumultuous season marked by ups and downs.
