On Thursday, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark addressed the media for the primary time after lacking the final three video games attributable to damage.
Picture Credit score: Jineen Williams | Ballislife
Caitlin Clark Reveals Timeline for Return
Clark mentioned her restoration from the quad pressure she sustained in the course of the Fever’s loss to the reigning WNBA Champions, the New York Liberty, practically two weeks in the past on the shootaround.
CC providing encouragement in the course of the portion of drills open to media.
She hasn’t returned to five-on-five follow but, however discuss to the media immediately following follow. pic.twitter.com/LOW7Pkub5G
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) June 5, 2025
“Clearly, adrenaline covers up numerous stuff if you’re within the warmth of battle,” Clark stated to the media Thursday. |And after the sport, I had some ache, after which we bought an MRI, and that form of gave me the end result that I did not wish to see. However, you understand, these forms of issues do not lie.”
Clark was noticed encouraging her Fever teammates in the course of the shootaround; nonetheless, she has not but resumed five-on-five follow on the court docket. She confirmed that she won’t take part in Indiana’s sport towards the Chicago Sky this Saturday however anticipates returning to the lineup on Tuesday when the staff faces the Atlanta Dream on the street.
Clark feels that she doesn’t wish to be rushed again onto the court docket, particularly since she has made progress in her restoration.
“I really feel like I’ve made numerous progress, and I really feel good, and never gonna rush coming again. It is simply not value it,” Clark stated.
That is the primary time Clark has missed a number of video games attributable to damage since her sophomore yr of highschool. Moreover, she revealed that she has gained extra persistence attributable to lacking time on the court docket.
“I like follow. I like getting higher,” Clark stated. “I feel that is simply form of been the time for me to, like, actually discover some persistence. And I’ve by no means been a affected person individual my total life, so that is undoubtedly testing me slightly bit. However I feel it is gonna be actually good for me. I simply tried to strategy it in one of the simplest ways I presumably can. I can not change it, however yeah, I feel my persistence has undoubtedly grown loads.”
How Caitlin Clark’s Return Impacts the Indiana Fever
Over the past three video games, the Fever went 1-2 with out Clark within the lineup, dropping by single digits to the Washington Mystics and the Connecticut Solar final week. Indiana additionally ended its dropping streak with a win over the Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday, due to Kelsey Mitchell’s 24-point efficiency and Aliyah Boston’s good taking pictures evening (5-5 FG).
pregame shenanigans with Caitlin Clark 😅 pic.twitter.com/emb6GKB6ca
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 4, 2025
Aari McDonald’s impression on the Fever
The staff had been in determined want of a backup level guard after dropping guards Syd Colson and Sophie Cunningham to accidents in Friday’s loss to the Solar. Because of this, Indiana signed guard Aari McDonald on Monday to a hardship contract, and her contributions off the bench had been unimaginable.
In 27 minutes, McDonald prodcued seven factors, 5 assists and three steals off the bench. She spent the final season with the Los Angeles Sparks after spending the primary three seasons of her profession with the Atlanta Dream.
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White is happy with McDonald’s impression, aggression, and the way she set the tone on Tuesday after the staff’s win over the Washington Mystics.
“I might inform earlier than her first follow, she undoubtedly watched some movie,” Caitlin Clark stated of McDonald. “She knew precisely what we had been doing on offense (and) protection. But additionally that simply speaks to her time within the league and understanding the way you play on this league. She’s aggressive, she’s aggressive (and) bodily.”
“She’s guarded me when she was on the LA Sparks final yr. She simply brings a special power and tenacity, and that is one thing we actually wanted. She bought us into our offense nicely. So, I am simply actually impressed along with her. I assumed she did an amazing job.”
How Clark’s Absence Impacts the Fever’s Management
The Fever has missed Caitlin Clark’s management for the reason that staff introduced that she would miss two weeks because of the quad pressure. However, Clark made her presence identified on the bench by giving her teammates some recommendation all through the video games for Indiana.
The Indiana Fever has one of the vital environment friendly offenses throughout the league—rating third within the league in factors per sport with 85.3 and discipline purpose proportion with 46.2. Indiana can also be ranked fourth within the league in offensive ranking at 104.4 and third in NET ranking with 7.3.
Early within the season, Clark stays among the many high contenders for the league’s Most Useful Participant award. She broke numerous data in her rookie season, together with probably the most assists in a single season. As well as, Clark shattered Seimone Augustus’ rookie scoring file, and was named the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Yr award and All-WNBA First Staff.
As soon as Clark returns to the Fever, she is going to proceed to construct confidence on the court docket and intention to keep up her long-term well being. By 4 video games, she is averaging 19.0 factors, 6.0 rebounds, and 9.3 assists per sport for Indiana.
“They have been actually resilient,” Clark stated.” It is laborious when your level guard goes out that controls numerous the sport, and needed to step into positions that perhaps they have not had. … I assumed we performed a extremely nice sport. Our final sport (towards the) mystics. I assumed we had been actually good (and) began to movement slightly bit higher on offense. We performed with slightly extra tempo.”
The Indiana Fever (3-4) will subsequent face the Chicago Sky (2-4) on Saturday, June 7.
