Drama is never too far from Indiana Fever. An hour and a half before tip-off against Portland, the franchise ruled Caitlin Clark out. However, the update came too late under WNBA injury-reporting rules, which require teams to submit player availability by 5 p.m. local time the day before games. Fortunately, it meant a formal warning from the league instead of a fine. But according to Stephanie White, they did not violate any rules at all.

Clark was dealing with back soreness, according to White, and was kept out of the game as a precautionary measure. “She’s healthy. We’re not managing anything,” White told reporters pregame. “This is just a back issue that we want to make sure we give the time to be ready.” Ultimately, she believes, the warning from the league was unwarranted. 

“My reaction is, for what? ” Stephanie White said before the Golden State Valkyries clash. “Because we did things the right way.”

Even at the time, White maintained that last-minute changes are normal. “Not everybody that doesn’t practice or gets a pro day is on the injury report,” White said. “That happens all the time. And she wasn’t listed on the injury report earlier because we expected her to play.”  Stephanie White also explained that even though she did not practice the previous day, they expected Clark to be fit for the game.

Clark echoed the same. In fact, she revealed to have told the media before telling it to her own mother. “I actually went back and looked because of all these narratives going crazy online about when I told my mom I wasn’t going to play the game. I told my mom at 4:47, and you guys found out at 5:20,” Clark said. “One of the most important people in my life found out only 40 minutes before you guys.”

The narratives were all over the place around Clark and the Fever, as they usually are with the most popular franchise of the league. However, it was completely avoidable on the franchise’s part. If they had listed Clark the previous day, since she did not practice, and then ruled her out 100 minutes before tip-off, such hoopla would have never been created. “I don’t disclose anything that hasn’t already been disclosed by our medical team or our franchise,” White further said. 

However, while the warning sparked headlines, the Fever’s real concern lies elsewhere: Caitlin Clark’s fitness.

Caitlin Clark Hints At a Long-Term Effect Of her Back Injury  

Caitlin Clark was this time listed as probable for the Golden State Valkyries game. Ultimately, Clark was available, which is what the fans hope she would be. The point guard suffered multiple soft tissue injuries and played only 13 games last year. And this back injury is not a new one.

Clark was spotted with a back brace during that opener against the Dallas Wings. Before the game Clark maintained that she will likely be listed for the foreseeable future. 

“I mean, I think at this point maybe I’ll need to be listed as soreness on every injury report,” Clark said. “My back feels good… But I hope it’s not something that hinders me. I think I’m doing everything I can to put myself in the best position I can recovery-wise. I’m continuing to lift. I’m continuing to get massages, hyperbaric [chamber], needling, and every single thing I can possibly do after games and put myself in a position to play the next game and I feel really good.”

The mental aspect is not to be ignored with Clark. She is only beginning to trust her body after months of physical therapy. While she participated in the Team USA Qualifiers ahead of the return, a full-fledged WNBA  season is a completely different beast.

The 44-game schedule is hectic, especially for someone returning from injuries. The Fever are taking things cautiously with Clark and hope this will be something they forget by the end of the season.