LOS ANGELES (AP) — Caitlin Clark says she feels good enough to return from her back injury Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Sparks. If she does, the Indiana Fever All-Star doesn't expect to play in Thursday's highly anticipated rematch at Phoenix. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Clark has spent the last two weeks rehabbing from an injury that forced her out of a June 24 game against the Mercury. Earlier in the game, Clark was seen grimacing after taking a hit to her throat, a play that prompted league officials to suspend Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for one game for what it described as "recklessly making contact with her fist" and set off a polarizing debate about cleaning up the game.
While an eight-day break heading into Sunday's game at Las Vegas managed to tamp down some of the rhetoric, it wasn't enough to get Clark back in action. Two additional days off may be.
"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," Clark said as Tuesday's practice started. "From a health standpoint, just getting back into it, I would assume I'd be on a minutes restriction (Wednesday). Still hopeful of a little bit more than 20 if I'm able to go. Hopefully, I feel good after the game versus Los Angeles and then will be available in (Las) Vegas (on Sunday)."
Coach Stephanie White was more cautious about Clark's availability, acknowledging that the decision will be made at game time.