Caitlin Clark has sparked yet more fears about her mounting injuries after being pulled from the Indiana Fever lineup just two hours before tipoff.
Clark, 24, was not included in her team’s injury report ahead of the game against the Portland Fire and it was only after a pregame walkthrough on Wednesday that the team decided to scratch her from the lineup due to a lingering back issue.
The news left fans devastated, with many having bought a ticket just to see the WNBA‘s biggest star in action.
While it is the first game she has missed in the 2026 season, Clark sat out 31 games during the 2025 campaign with a series of lower body and groin injuries.
This latest issue for the star guard is with her back, and Clark has previously opened up about the lingering issues.
After the Fever’s season-opening loss against the Wings on May 7, she admitted her back ‘gets out of line pretty quickly’.
Caitlin Clark is missing yet more time with injury after being scratched with a back issue
Clark had played the first four games of this season but is now back on the sidelines again
That comment, and her mounting injury record, is bound to concern league officials with Clark continuing to be the overwhelming face of not only her franchise in Indiana, but the entire league.
On X after the injury news was revealed, one fan wrote: ‘This entire league needs to figure out the only reason we watch is to see CC play. The product is virtually unwatchable without her.’
Another added: ‘LOL, this hilarious….1 hour before game time, people already locked in to their tickets and travel…de ja vu from last year? Yup.’
A third slammed the Fever and noted: ‘OK…THIS IS BS!! Yesterday, no injury. Today, star player is OUT?! You guys are being deceptive to the fanbase to sell tickets…not cool AT ALL!’
Clark missed a huge 31 games of the 2025 season due to various lower body and groin injuries
Her base salary for the 2026 season has surged to $528,846, but she makes millions more in off-court endorsements and is far and away the biggest name in women’s basketball.
The Fever disclosed Clark’s injury less than two hours before tipoff on Wednesday night, with many fans already in the Gainbridge Fieldhouse arena to watch the game.
This season, Clark is averaging 24.3 points, nine assists, five rebounds and one steal in four games.
She played 24 minutes Sunday in Indiana’s win over Seattle, finishing with 21 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
