Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been ruled out of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Sparks due to a back injury, head coach Stephanie White announced Friday.
White stated there is no clear indication of when Clark might return to the court, but noted the team has a week-long break after Saturday's contest that will allow Clark time to receive treatment and focus on her recovery. "Long-term health and wellness is the most important thing," White told reporters.
Clark left the Fever's previous game against the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday in the second half. The exact timing of when the injury occurred remains unclear, though Clark was previously listed with a back issue in May.
White expressed frustration postgame Wednesday regarding two plays she described as "cheap shots" on Clark that were not called fouls. "We have a generational talent and WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots [against her] right there that weren't called," White said. "Absolutely unacceptable."
Her comments followed an incident involving Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas, where Thomas's fist made contact with Clark's neck. The league later reviewed the play and issued Thomas a Flagrant Foul 2, a one-game suspension, and a $1,000 fine for "recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area of Caitlin Clark."
Clark, the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has a history of injuries. Last year, she played in only 13 games due to quad and groin injuries. Despite these setbacks and occasional officiating inconsistencies, Clark has been a significant offensive contributor for the Fever this season. The team currently holds a 10-8 record, with Clark averaging a career-high 21.2 points per game and shooting 43.0 percent from the field. She also ranks second in the WNBA with an average of 8.2 assists per game.