WNBA Star Caitlin Clark Leaves Fever’s Win In Boston With Obvious Leg Harm

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark left Tuesday evening’s recreation within the ultimate minute holding again tears after grabbing at her leg — an obvious harm that may be her third this season.

Clark walked again downcourt holding her proper groin after aiding on the Fever’s ultimate basket of an 85-77 victory over the Connecticut Solar in entrance of a sold-out crowd of 19,156 on the TD Backyard in Boston. As teammate Aliyah Boston tried to console her, Clark walked to the basket stanchion and banged her head towards it earlier than heading to the bench. Throughout the timeout, she coated her head with a towel and seemed to be holding again tears.

“No replace. Simply felt just a little one thing in her groin,” Fever coach Stephanie White stated after the sport. “We’ll get it evaluated and see what occurs from there.”

Clark, who has already missed 9 video games this season for 2 separate left leg accidents, struggled along with her capturing within the uncommon WNBA recreation on the house of the Celtics and Bruins, scoring 14 factors whereas making 4 of 14 pictures. She dedicated 5 turnovers and made her solely 3-pointer in seven tries with simply three minutes left, giving the Fever a nine-point lead that was their largest of the sport.

The second-year phenom was not obtainable to reporters after the sport. The Fever had been scheduled to play the New York Liberty on Wednesday evening on the Barclays Middle — their second straight recreation in an NBA area.

“Definitely we’ll have one other analysis, most likely a dialog, and we’ll see the place we’re,” White stated. “However this group has performed with out her. At the least we have expertise in that.”

Caitlin Clark suffered an obvious leg harm within the ultimate moments of the Fever’s win over the Connecticut Solar in Boston. (Photograph by Brian Fluharty/Getty Photographs)

Clark’s struggles did not dampen the temper for the followers who stuffed the Backyard to see New England’s solely WNBA staff play in Boston for the second yr in a row. Each have been sellouts — the most important crowds to see a basketball recreation within the constructing’s historical past.

And this yr, it was the visiting Indiana Fever and their breakout star that the majority of them had been there to see.

“It’s a fantastic alternative for folks within the metropolis, or followers across the space, to return and help a staff right here,” Clark stated earlier than the sport. “You don’t take these alternatives with no consideration. It’s all the time enjoyable to go to a brand new area in a brand new place and revel in it.”

Followers carrying Clark’s No. 22 crowded towards the court docket earlier than the sport attempting to get her autograph, waving her jersey or selfmade indicators begging for a selfie. Amongst these in attendance had been Celtics Jaylen Brown and Georges Niang, Bruins Jeremy Swayman and Mason Lohrei, Crimson Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey.

Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics watches a recreation between the Connecticut Solar and the Indiana Fever through the first half on the TD Backyard. (Photograph by Brian Fluharty/Getty Photographs)

Clark added seven assists and eight rebounds for the Fever, who pulled away within the fourth quarter. She dedicated one in all her turnovers on the Fever’s first possession and one other when she stepped on the sideline on the finish of the third quarter — guarded too intently to launch one in all her brand 3-pointers.

Clark stated earlier than the sport that she took time to understand the chance to play in a constructing the place a lot basketball lore had been written. The Iowa native stated she grew up respecting the Celtics as a corporation, although she now counts herself an Indiana Pacers fan.

“The Celtics are one of many premier organizations of the NBA,” she stated. “And having received a championship two years in the past now, it’s sort of cool to only be on this constructing and encompass your self with the greatness that has performed on this area.”

The Celtics received all of it in 2024 capturing an NBA report variety of 3-pointers — one thing Clark, whose long-distance capturing made her a breakout star for the Hawkeyes and in her first two years within the WNBA, might admire.

“I’m a Pacers fan. I simply wish to make that clear. However as I’ve been rising up, they’ve been a enjoyable staff to root for,” she stated. “They’re actually enjoyable to look at. They shoot numerous 3s, which possibly folks make an argument towards. However for myself, I feel that’s enjoyable. I get pleasure from that. I feel it’s a fantastic type of basketball.”

Clark stated she had by no means been to Boston and would have favored to absorb a Crimson Sox recreation at Fenway Park, however baseball is off for the All-Star break.

“It looks like an incredible metropolis,” she stated. “I’d love to return again right here and discover just a little bit extra within the historical past of it and all of the wonderful issues that you are able to do.”

That could possibly be some time, as a result of town that’s house to an unprecedented 18 NBA championships doesn’t have a staff within the WNBA; the Solar are the league’s sole consultant in New England, the birthplace of basketball.

Boston, a three-time Massachusetts Participant of the Yr whereas at Worcester Academy earlier than profitable an NCAA championship at South Carolina, stated she believed her namesake city might help a WNBA staff.

“Whenever you have a look at the environment for the Celtics, whenever you have a look at the environment for the 2 TD Backyard video games that now we’ve had, it’s been offered out. It’s been power,” she stated. “They clearly have been nice, and I feel that’s going to be the identical on a regular basis.”

Reporting by The Related Press. 

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