Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will start the first night of a back-to-back on a minutes restriction, coach Stephanie White announced Friday. The restriction is due to a nagging back issue that has limited Clark's workload this season. She is averaging 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in 20 games.
The Fever also downgraded center Aliyah Boston to "out" with a lower right leg issue. White indicated Boston's absence is due to inflammation accumulated from games, and that the team is prioritizing player health given the schedule.
"It’s again the collaboration with the medical staff and AB and us and understanding the big picture and making sure that we’re smart," White said when asked if Boston would have played if it wasn't the first game of a back-to-back.
The Fever are in the midst of a challenging stretch, playing three games in four days, culminating with a Saturday matchup against the New York Liberty. The Liberty are also facing their own challenges, coming off an unexpected five-day break due to travel issues that rescheduled their Thursday game against Dallas to Monday.
New York coach Chris DeMarco acknowledged the unexpected break provided an opportunity for team film study, practice, and camaraderie.
Both the Liberty and the Fever, who hold championship aspirations, have struggled recently. The Liberty have lost seven of their last nine games, while the Fever have also seen a dip in performance. Both teams sit in sixth and seventh place in the league standings, respectively, entering Friday's games.
The Liberty are also managing other injuries. Satou Sabally will be sidelined through the All-Star break with a concussion, though a specific return timeline remains unestablished. Leonie Fiebich is out indefinitely with a left foot injury, though she "avoided serious injury," according to DeMarco. She does not have a target return date and did not travel with the team to Indianapolis.