Caitlin Clark to miss tonight's game vs. Sparks with groin injury, how long will she be out?
INDIANAPOLIS – Caitlin Clark will miss her sixth game of the season on Thursday night as the Indiana Fever host the Los Angeles Sparks, as the team ruled her out with a left groin injury.
Fever coach Steph White said Clark reported pain after the team returned from their West Coast road trip on Wednesday. Clark had struggled on the Fever's West Coast road trip this week; she didn't make a 3-pointer in two of the three games, which has never happened before in her career.
"I think it's very much a day-to-day thing, how she responds to treatment," White said. " I stay in my lane and let our strength and conditioning and our AT staff do what they do best. But yeah, I found out late last night and and then we'll treat it day-to-day."
The Fever don't have any break after their return from the West Coast; they're playing the Sparks on Thursday night then flying straight to Dallas for another game on Friday. White said that, from a physical standpoint, they weren't holding Clark out because of the back-to-back.
Clark got an MRI on her groin on Wednesday, but White did not specify if the MRI showed a strain when asked.
"You'll have to ask our training staff," White said. "I stay in my lane."
Clark missed five straight games earlier this season with a left quad strain, then returned to the team against the New York Liberty on June 14. That instance was the first time in her career that she'd missed collegiate or professional games because of an injury, and it's now happened again just a week and a half later.
"C's shown that she's tough and a quick healer, so we'll see," White said.
Indiana will be down to nine players at least against the Sparks on Thursday; Damiris Dantas' contract was temporarily suspended yesterday as she goes to Chile to play in FIBA AmeriCup with the Brazilian National Team.
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at capeterson@gannett.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar's Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter.
(This story was updated to add a photo gallery.)