Fans Saddened by Caitlin Clark News on Tuesday

The Indiana Fever are 8–8 through their first 16 games of the season — and they’ve had to navigate nearly half of those without star point guard Caitlin Clark.

Clark missed five games earlier in the year due to a quad injury and has now been sidelined for the last two with a groin issue. Unfortunately for Fever fans, that absence will continue Tuesday night.

Indiana is set to face the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Final, and while there was hope Clark might return — especially after head coach Stephanie White labeled her a game-time decision Tuesday morning — the team officially ruled her out ahead of the matchup, marking her third straight missed game.

Fans were saddened by the announcement:

“I have no words,” a fan said.

Another fan posted, “This last minute stuff is just ridiculous and nothing more than taking advantage of the fans. I don’t know if this is coach , front office or WNBA but if CC cares about her fans or fever cares about fans it’s time to start respecting them.”

Someone else added, “So sad. I get it though.”

“Hope she gets fully healthy before she comes back (me saying this as I’m trying not to crash out},” One more fan commented. 

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22).

Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Prioritizing Clark’s health appears to be the smartest long-term move for the Fever — a point head coach Stephanie White has emphasized multiple times amid Clark’s early-season injuries.

That said, when Clark has been on the court, she’s been nothing short of spectacular. In just nine games, she’s averaged 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per contest.

Facing a red-hot Minnesota Lynx squad sitting at 13–2 won’t be easy without her, but the Fever will need strong performances from Kelsey Mitchell — who has stepped up significantly in Clark’s absence — as well as key contributions from Lexie Hull, Sydney Colson, Sophie Cunningham, and Aari McDonald.