Things may be going from bad to worse for the Indiana Fever. According to a Sunday report by Beth Mishler-Elmore of Athlon Sports, citing Sports Injury Central, WNBA rookie standout Caitlin Clark might be out longer than initially anticipated due to a quadriceps injury. Originally expected to miss four games, Clark has already sat out two — both resulting in Fever losses — and the team is now on a three-game skid.
Clark, who was named the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, sustained the injury on May 26. At that time, she had appeared in four games and was averaging 19 points per outing. Her absence is not only a blow to the Fever but also impacts league-wide interest, as she has quickly become a marquee name.
A troubling note from Sports Injury Central stated:
“Caitlin Clark has sustained the first injury of her WNBA career that will cost her at least two weeks… but @profootballdoc expects a longer absence.”
This sparked swift reaction from fans online. One user wrote under Mishler-Elmore’s article, “The entire league would crumble.” Another added, “So uh The Fever are gonna need that 2 week assessment on Caitlin Clark to be a true 2 week timeline.”
Others shared words of support and appreciation for sports analysts helping to interpret the news. One fan noted, “Tough break for Caitlin Clark—hope she recovers quickly! @OwenTurnertrade’s insights on player impacts have been clutch for understanding these situations.”
Dr. David J. Chao, a well-known sports injury expert, weighed in, cautioning:
“Take the over on a return… Quadriceps injuries affect a major muscle group essential for running and jumping. It’s unlikely she’ll return in two weeks. We’re expecting something closer to a month.”
Mishler-Elmore emphasized that the Fever are likely to take a cautious approach with their franchise centerpiece, and head coach Stephanie White won’t be rushing her back into the lineup.
Adding to the league’s injury woes, Paige Bueckers the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft is also sidelined, currently in concussion protocol and expected to miss at least two games.
Looking ahead, the Fever will host the Washington Mystics on Tuesday, then face the Chicago Sky on Saturday and travel to play the Atlanta Dream on June 10 a team they split games with earlier in the season when Clark was still active.
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