When Fever ‘hope’ she’ll return

The Fever are holding out hope that Caitlin Clark will be back before the end of the regular season. 

The superstar guard, who has been dealing with a right groin injury, has missed the last month. 

Fever coach Stephanie White offered somewhat of a status update on Clark before a game against the Sun on Sunday. 

“That’s the hope,” White said, when asked about Clark potentially returning before the playoffs. “The hope is that she’s back.”

It’s been a forgettable second season for Clark. She has missed time with a quad and groin injuries. The 2024 No. 1 pick and first-team All-WNBA selection has appeared in just 13 games this season, averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game.

The Fever have declined to put a timeline on a return. 

“The experience throughout the year, trying to come back and come back quickly, has also taught her that she needs to make sure that she’s 100 percent,” White said. “Yes, every competitor wants to play, but at the same time doing it the right way and making sure, after we’ve had a couple of setbacks, that we’re prioritizing her long-term health and wellness is the most important thing.”

Clark usually travels with the Fever for road games, but didn’t make the trip to Connecticut.

Indiana has lost two games amid mounting injuries. It still sits in seventh place with 10 games to go. 

“We have great leadership in that locker room,” White said. “This group is tight. They’re connected. They stay together.

“I think, for us, reiterating we’ve got to be where our feet are. We can’t look too far behind us. We can’t look too far in front of us. We’ve got to make sure that we’re focused on one day at a time.”