Caitlin Clark’s back issue flipped fast during the Fever’s 111-109 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, turning a promising start into an early exit and a downgrade to out in the third quarter.
When the Fever surged to a 67-all tie late in the third quarter. it looked like Caitlin Clark might keep driving Indiana’s momentum. Then her night unraveled. Clark exited with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter of Wednesday’s 111-109 loss to the Phoenix Mercury. and the injury that had lingered through the season finally forced the decision.
Indiana head coach Stephanie White called a timeout after Phoenix converted Clark’s turnover into two points to tie it up at 67-all. After that huddle, Clark headed back to the locker room and was downgraded to out.
Clark had started Wednesday on the Fever’s injury report and was listed as probable due to back soreness that previously sidelined her in Indiana’s win over the Portland Fire on May 20. She was upgraded to available ahead of tipoff and was close to a milestone moment. carrying 19 points and eight assists as she chased what would have been her fifth double-double of the season.
She shot 5-of-9 from the field and 3-of-4 from the 3-point line before her exit, and she had helped keep Indiana in striking distance early after the injury flared again.
The back issue appeared to surface more clearly with 6:25 remaining in the second quarter, when Clark tweaked her back during a 3-point attempt. She was fouled by Phoenix’s Valeriane Ayayi, who didn’t provide Clark space to land. Clark landed on Ayayi’s feet, then grabbed her back on the ground.
Clark made all three free throws after that moment to extend the Fever’s lead to 44-38, but the episode didn’t fully settle, and it ended up taking her out late in the third quarter.
White has framed the situation as something the Fever will have to manage over time. She described it as an “ongoing thing” this season for Clark, who was limited to 13 games last season because of multiple soft tissue injuries.
White said on May 9 that the problem is rooted in mechanics that don’t get exposed until something happens. “It’s part of maintaining the body…. when we’re all really young. we don’t learn proper mechanics. and it doesn’t get exposed until something happens. ” White said then. “This is going to be an ongoing thing. And not just her. We have multiple players who have gone back − we don’t have the blue tent. but they’re going to go back and get adjusted and make sure that the body’s working.”.
How it started, and when the back discomfort truly began, has been less clear. Clark said she left the court midgame during the Fever’s 107-104 season-opening loss to the Dallas Wings on May 9 to get her “back adjusted. ” describing that it “gets out of line pretty quickly.” After returning. she wore a wrap around her back.
By Wednesday night, the Fever were left with a familiar question—how long can a team play through a back issue before it makes the decision for them? Against Phoenix, it made the decision at 5:15 in the third quarter, with Clark headed to the locker room and ruled out of the rest of the game.
Caitlin Clark injury Fever vs Mercury back issue Stephanie White WNBA injuries Valeriane Ayayi Indiana Fever