Caitlin Clark has not played since June 24, and Wednesday night’s trip to Los Angeles could finally end that wait. The Fever star called herself “very hopeful” about playing against the Sparks, setting up a decision that will shape Indiana’s entire West Coast swing.
Clark aggravated her back injury during a June 24 loss to the Phoenix Mercury, exiting in the third quarter and sitting out the two games since. The Fever kept winning anyway, beating both the Sparks and the Las Vegas Aces without her, pushing their record to 12-8 and second place in the Eastern Conference.
Even with that success, Indiana wants its floor general back. Caitlin Clark practiced with the team ahead of Wednesday’s game. That is a strong signal she is trending toward a return after more than a week of treatment and rehab work.
Clark laid out exactly what a return might look like.
“Very hopeful for tomorrow and, obviously, it’ll be difficult for me to play both, this one on Wednesday and then the one on Thursday, but we’ll see,” she said. “I would assume I’d be on a minutes restriction. Still hopeful of a little bit more than 20 if I’m able to go.”
That back-to-back is the real challenge. Indiana plays the Sparks on Wednesday, then turns around for the Mercury on Thursday, the same team Caitlin Clark was hurt against in the first place. She said she hopes to feel good enough after the Sparks game to also be available for a Sunday matchup in Las Vegas, but she was careful not to promise anything beyond Wednesday.
Caitlin Clark also spoke candidly about how much travel has worked against her recovery.
“It’s hard on your body to travel and be on the road for 10 days and sleeping in different hotels and things like that,” she said. “But I’m doing everything I can to be as healthy as possible. I really trust the people that are helping me.”
Fever Coach Stephanie White Leaves The Call To Medical Staff Regarding Caitlin Clark
Head coach Stephanie White made clear the final decision is not hers to make.
“I do what I’m told, I stay in my lane, so whatever medical says we need to do to make sure she’s ready and whatever she needs to feel comfortable and confident is what we’ll do,” White said.
She added that Clark’s long-term health remains the priority over any single game, calling that message consistent no matter who is available.
This is already the third game Clark has missed this season, following an earlier absence in May against the Portland Fire. Even with the missed time, she remains one of the WNBA’s most productive players, averaging 21.2 points, 8.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds a game while shooting 43.0 percent from the field. She was named an All-Star starter for the second straight year, joining teammates Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston in that honor.
Indiana has handled Los Angeles with ease this season, sweeping both regular-season meetings so far, including a 111-87 blowout in Indiana on June 27. Caitlin Clark had 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting the last time she faced the Sparks herself, back on May 13.
Whether she plays 20 minutes or none at all, Wednesday’s game will say a lot about how the Fever plan to manage her the rest of the way. A minute restriction now could be the difference between having Clark for one game this week or two. Indiana appears determined not to rush that decision, since it affects far more than a single result against the Sparks.
