Caitlin Clark’s return to Brooklyn will have to wait at least another week.
Clark was ruled out with a right groin injury sustained during the Fever’s loss Tuesday, forcing them to operate without their star against the Liberty at Barclays Center and putting Clark’s status for this weekend’s WNBA All-Star festivities — where she was scheduled to participate in the 3-point contest and captain a team in Indianapolis — in doubt.
It marked the 11th absence of the season for Clark, who didn’t miss any time during her rookie campaign in 2024 and was never sidelined across her four seasons at Iowa.
Her latest injury occurred with 40 seconds left against the Sun at TD Garden, when she threaded a pass between two defenders and held her right groin area on the way back down the court.
Clark kept walking until she reached the basket stanchion, slamming her head against it before veering toward the Indiana bench.
Head coach Stephanie White told reporters postgame that Clark — who just missed five games with a left groin injury before returning July 9 after also dealing with quad tightness and a quad strain earlier in the year — “felt a little something in her groin” and needed to get evaluated.
“This group has played without her,” White said. “At least we’ve got experience in that. We know that we have a tough opponent in New York. We know that it’s going to be a challenge, no matter what, and we’ve just got to get locked in and ready to compete.”
In a season where the Fever — pegged as a team that could challenge the Liberty and Lynx as a possible title contender — have needed to continue adjusting with Clark in and out of the lineup, her latest absence spoiled a return to one of the WNBA’s biggest markets.
Indiana travels to Brooklyn again Tuesday in its first game back from the break, but it’s unclear how long Clark’s injury could sideline her.
Last year, Clark had her first breakout performance at Barclays Center, pouring in 22 points during a May 18 game that, according to the Associated Press at the time, set a WNBA record by generating $2 million in ticket revenue.
She struggled during her return two weeks later and only managed three points, but the aura, hype and palpable buzz that defined the Caitlin Clark Show still remained intact.
That’ll look different Wednesday night, though. Clark will be stuck on the bench, tasked with navigating another injury in a season where her stats — 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds per game — look similar to last year’s numbers but where the context illustrates a roller-coaster campaign that just encountered its latest turn.