Caitlin Clark expects to play Wednesday when the Indiana Fever host the Golden State Valkyries. The All-Star captain has missed the past five games with a left groin injury.
Clark participated in practice Monday, which was open to season ticket holders, playing in a 5-on-5 scrimmage. It was the first time she’d done that since getting hurt on June 26. Barring any setbacks, Clark will be available to play Wednesday.
“It’s nice to get back out there and get back into the flow of playing with my teammates again,” Clark told reporters after practice Tuesday. “It’s going to be fun to get back out there hopefully and just feel things again. … It’s obviously hard sitting out and watching for a few weeks, so I’m excited to get out there.”
It was Clark’s second injury of the season. She’s only played in nine of the team’s 18 games this season as well as the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final which saw the Fever beat the Minnesota Lynx. Clark had a left quad injury that forced her to miss five games last month. This season marks the first time she’s missed WNBA games with an injury; Clark also appeared in every game for Iowa over her four years with the Hawkeyes.
“I hope to play a decent amount — in the upper 20s. I guess it depends on how the game goes and how I feel and what the team needs,” Clark said. “But I feel pretty good. But I’m going to try to not overdo it and put myself in a good position moving forward.”
In nine games, Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, and 5.0 rebounds. The 2024 Rookie of the Year is shooting just 29.5% on 3-pointers thanks to going 1-for-17 on 3s in the three games before the groin injury; she had been hitting 40% of her 3s before that point.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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