The Indiana Fever’s abrupt announcement that Caitlin Clark would miss Wednesday night’s game against the Portland Fire with a back injury, made just over an hour before tipoff, has sparked widespread confusion.
Clark was not on the Fever’s initial injury report listed Tuesday afternoon, even though head coach Stephanie White told reporters that she missed that day’s practice and went through workouts after practice was over.
“Just woke up with some stiffness and soreness,” White said. “It’s not the time to take a chance. We just really want to be cautious.”
A Fever spokesperson told Front Office Sports that Clark was “on the court at one point” during Tuesday’s practice, which included a media availability (featuring White, Myisha Hines-Allen, Aliyah Boston, and assistant Tully Bevilaqua).
Even though Fever beat reporter Scott Agness noted pregame that Clark’s absence was “part of a strategic management plan for the season,” White claimed that the team “was not managing anything” in what was merely a back problem that needed recovery time.
