Caitlin Clark Still Not Back at Fever Practice Amid Injury Recovery
Despite rumors circulating online about her potential return, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has yet to rejoin team practices, as confirmed by head coach Stephanie White on Monday. Clark, who has been sidelined for 10 consecutive games, is still in recovery from a right groin injury, her fourth muscle injury of the season.
While Clark has been able to increase her activity on the court, including full-court running and endurance building, she has not yet progressed to full team practice. Coach White shared that Clark has been gradually increasing her endurance, focusing on longer periods of activity, but still hasn’t made the jump to participating in team drills.
“She’s been able to get a little bit more in her full-court running, with all her body weight,” White said. “It’s really building up from doing minimal to then building some endurance to do longer periods of time. She’s been able to do a little bit more on the court in terms of how she moves, but not into practice yet.”
The speculation about Clark’s return began after ESPN’s automated injury tracker listed her return date as August 12, marking her status as a game-time decision rather than out for the season. However, Clark remains a long way from getting back on the court and continues to be without a specific timeline for her return.
Clark has been out since July 16 after injuring her right groin, and though additional imaging revealed no further damage beyond what was originally detected, the Fever are taking a cautious approach to her recovery. This is in hopes of ensuring that when she returns, she is fully healthy and capable of playing at her best.
“I know she wants to be out here on the floor, and we want her out here on the floor, but making sure that she’s ready is the most important thing,” White commented on August 3. “We’re going to take it one step at a time, one day at a time, and go from there.”
The absence of Clark, who has been a key player for the Fever this season, has posed a significant challenge to the team. Adding to the struggles, Indiana’s point guard depth was further depleted after Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson suffered season-ending injuries during the team’s game against Phoenix on August 7.
To address the point guard void, the Fever signed veteran Odyssey Sims to a hardship contract on Sunday. Sims, who is eligible to play for the Fever, will help fill the gap while the team continues to navigate the absence of both Clark and their injured guards.
The Fever, currently holding an 18-14 record, will host the Dallas Wings on Tuesday. With Sims available to play, the team will rely on her experience and leadership to help them stay competitive.
For fans of Caitlin Clark and the Fever, the hope is that the star guard will make a full recovery soon. However, the team’s priority remains her long-term health, and the Fever will continue to take a cautious approach to her return as they prepare for the remainder of the season.
