Caitlin Clark’s hot night in Indianapolis came to an abrupt halt yesterday when the Indiana Fever star left the game against the Phoenix Mercury with what the team called a back issue and did not return. Before heading to the locker room for good, the All-Star guard poured in 19 points and dished out eight assists in roughly 20 minutes of action.
According to the Indianapolis Star, Clark appeared to tweak her back in the second quarter after Phoenix’s Valeriane Ayayi fouled her on a 3-pointer. Clark later returned to the bench with a wrap on her back, but she checked out again with 5:15 left in the third quarter. The Fever soon confirmed she was done for the night.
Box score and game context
The official box score credits Clark with 19 points and eight assists in 20 minutes before her early exit, figures that are listed in the game summary on WNBA.com. Her production helped set the tone offensively before the injury cut her evening short.
Injury background
Per the Indianapolis Star, Clark had been listed as “probable” with a back issue on 13 consecutive injury reports heading into the matchup, turning her status into a regular pregame subplot. That lingering concern has already forced the Fever to keep a close eye on her workload and recovery throughout the season.
What’s next for the Fever
The Fever are scheduled to host the Los Angeles Sparks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, June 27, according to Ticketmaster. Gainbridge Fieldhouse is Indiana’s home court, and the team is expected to share any roster or medical updates ahead of the next tipoff.
