Indiana Fever Reporter Shares Caitlin Clark’s First Practice Glimpse 25 Hours After Quad Injury Announcement

The Indiana Fever just got hit with some tough news. Caitlin Clark is out for at least two weeks. She’s dealing with a strain to her left quadriceps, the team confirmed on Monday. And yes—it’s a big blow. Not just for the Fever’s offense, but for the entire WNBA. And that goes without saying. Clark is the show. She’s the headline. The reason fans tune in. Clark had never missed a single game. Not in college. Not in the pros. Until now. The news shocked the entire community! But now, just 25 hours after that news, there’s an update–and it’s sure to lift the spirits of Fever fans.

Caitlin Clark has never been one to sit out. Not at Iowa, where she played 139 games and became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer. Not in her rookie WNBA season, where she managed to win the Rookie of the Year and a First-Team All-WNBA nod. This year, she picked up right where she left off—averaging 19 points and a league-best 9.3 assists through four games. But now, for the first time in her career, Clark is set to miss regular-season action after playing 44 W games. And for a player known for her toughness and durability, that’s what makes this news so surprising. But there was good news for the Fever fans on the horizon.

According to reporter Scott Agnes, Caitlin Clark was seen shooting around after practice. A normal rehab procedure, perhaps? But one which will certainly delight the fans!

Caitlin Clark may have missed Monday’s practice after news of her injury broke–but by Tuesday, she was back on the court. Videos quickly surfaced showing her dribbling, moving around, and even getting some shots up. And just like that, hope returned. Because yes, the Indiana Fever do need her.

Now the focus shifts to how they fill the void in the meantime. Especially when it comes to playmaking. Clark has been the team’s engine, and without her, someone else needs to step up to keep the ball moving. So far, the Fever’s offense has looked solid in stretches, but halfcourt consistency is still a work in progress. They currently rank fifth in the WNBA in assists. Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell are right behind Clark in that department, each dishing out 2.3 assists per game. Now, they’ll have to dig even deeper.

While fans were thrilled to see Caitlin Clark back on the court practicing, head coach Stephanie White made one thing clear– they won’t rush her back. Let’s take a look at what the coach had to say!

Given the fierce competitor Caitlin Clark is–and her spotless record of never missing a single college or pro game until now—it was always going to be a challenge to keep her off the court. Coach Stephanie White even admitted as much. Still, she made one thing clear– Clark won’t be rushed back. The focus is on long-term health, and the Fever are determined to make sure their star recovers fully before returning to action.

“[We need to make] sure that we address this in a way that doesn’t affect [her] long-term,” White admitted. “That we take care of it, don’t over-push, don’t over-exert. Making sure that we take the long-game approach to this so that we’re not having lingering issues throughout the course of the season. And I’m glad that, you know, sometimes great players don’t tell you that they’re hurting. I’m glad that she did, because we need to nip this in the bud.”

Coach Stephanie White has confirmed that veteran guard Sydney Colson will step into the starting point guard role for the next game. This update comes via Michael Gallagher of Athlon Sports. Colson, who joined the Fever in free agency, averaged 2.5 points and 1 assist per game in 31 appearances for the Las Vegas Aces last season. Now, she gets the nod to lead the backcourt alongside Kelsey Mitchell!