Caitlin Clark’s participation in Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Mercury ended early when the Indiana Fever guard left the game before the fourth quarter. The Fever announced that Clark would not return because of a back problem.
It remains unclear when Clark first felt back pain, but she seemed to have exacerbated it after committing a foul in the second quarter. She exited the court with just over five minutes left in the third quarter and did not return, according to the Indianapolis Star.
The Fever faced a narrow loss of 111-109 against the Mercury with Clark out. Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 30 points, while Kahleah Copper’s 28 points helped the Mercury secure only their sixth victory of the season.
Videos of Clark’s gameplay showed Phoenix Mercury’s Thomas making contact with Clark near her groin and a subsequent contact with her throat, leading to her fall. The incident reignited talks about the intense physicality Clark has faced since her WNBA debut in 2024, though no foul was called on the play.
The back problem isn’t new for Clark, as the Fever’s injury reports have mentioned it multiple times this season. The Fever will continue their homestand on Saturday against the Los Angeles Sparks.
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