As someone who came from the Iowa Hawkeyes and swiftly transitioned to the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark is loved by her fans and supported by her second family, the city of Indianapolis. Whether she’s dominating on the hardwood or showing up to cheer for the men’s team, her city and the entire state of Indiana have witnessed her rapid rise and stood by her since her college days.

That support has only grown stronger as she enters her sophomore year. So when she returned to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for a preseason matchup this year, nearly 18,000 spectators showed up just to watch her play. And Caitlin, fully aware of the love around her, didn’t disappoint, single-handedly leading her team to a huge victory.

But in a surprising turn of events, Caitlin will be missing one of the most important events for the city.

Sports Journalist, Scott Agnes, took to X (former Twitter) and shared a shocking update ahead of the Indy 500 race this year. He wrote, “ICYMI: Fever guard Caitlin Clark not planning to attend 109th Indianapolis 500.” The post affirmed that Indiana Fever superstar will not be attending the motorsport this year.

Clark will not be attending the event due to a scheduling conflict. Despite a three-day break from the season matchups and her ongoing sponsorship as a brand ambassador of Gainsbridge, she will remain absent from the event. While her Fever teammates and Stephanie White attended the practice event last Sunday, Clark could not make to pre-race events either. In fact, Clark was speculated to wave the Green Flag but had to step down as White took charge of the responsibility.

The choice to miss the event, likely tied to her packed WNBA schedule or other commitments, shows how tough it is for Clark to juggle her skyrocketing career with local traditions. As a young star, she’s balancing the demands of fame, sponsorships, and her push for the 2025 MVP title, which makes her absence understandable, even if it stings for fans.

Meanwhile, Clark has a history of participating in IndyCar events. She even served as a Grand Marshal last year. The common duties of a Grand Marshal involve giving instructions to drivers, including the famous, “Drivers, start your engines,” announcement, appearing in driver introduction ceremony, making an appearance during the National anthem, giving media interviews, and much more. The position of a Grand Marshal is usually bestowed upon a well-known personality, celebrity, or someone with strong roots in Indianapolis culture and heritage.

This year marks the 109th run of the motorsport and is scheduled to take place at the at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. And as famous driver Kyle Larson tries to attempt a rare feat by participating in both, Indy 500 and the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600, sports journalist Scott Agnes has another breaking news for the drivers and fans.

Scott Agnes took to X and shared an image of the cloudy skies as people turn up in thousands to witness the historic race. He captioned the photograph with, “We’re about 75 mins away from green flag and it’s been sprinkling for the past 10mins. Hope it clears out soon. Driver introductions in 20mins.” With the rain gods in a mood for mischief, the pelting conditions can adversely affect Larson’s goals and cause an unnecessary delay in the most-anticipated race.

Larson’s dream of pulling off the “Double”, racing both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in one day, is a huge draw for fans, but the weather’s not playing nice. Last year, storms threw his plans into chaos, delaying the Indy 500 and forcing him to miss the Coca-Cola 600. This year, rain again. Without Clark’s star power to boost the event’s buzz, the focus is squarely on whether Larson can beat the odds and the weather.

Unfortunately, the met department had an unfavourable forecast in store for Sunday’s weather conditions. Predicting the temperature to hit a maximum of 65° F during the day, they revealed that the rains could begin early morning, right around the scheduled 12:45 PM ET green flag. Moreover, there is a risk of lightning, which would force a delay under IndyCar’s strict safety rules. If the storms happen to prevail till afternoon, they are likely to throw Larson’s tight schedule to reach Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 under the bus.

The rains also played spoilsport last year, sending Larson’s double-driving aspiration down the drain. The bad weather resulted in a four-hour delay during the 2024 Indy 500. Though he finished at the 18th spot at the Indy 500 and immediately left for the airport to participate at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, storms made their way to the city and the race had to be halted after 249 laps. And with similar weather conditions visible before Casey Irsay Foyt waves the green flag today, what will be the fate of the most prestigious event today? And will Kyle Larson make his dream come true? Well, that remains to be seen. Meanwhile, after Caitlin’s staggering performance against the Liberty on Saturday, how will she return to her usual, charismatic form?

Can Caitlin Clark go from Rookie to MVP in just one season?

“Caitlin’s the head of the snake, so we have to do a great job against her,” Sandy Brondello said after the gruelling match between Indiana Fever and New York Liberty. And while Brondello’s team won, the feat was not an easy one. At least Clark and Aliyah Boston ensured it was not not going to be an easy win for the Liberty.

Even with the Indy 500 absence, Clark’s focus on the court is undeniable. Her choice to skip the race might be a smart move to save her energy for the WNBA season, where she’s lighting it up and chasing that MVP crown. Fans get it, she’s got to prioritize, but it doesn’t make missing her at the Speedway any less of a letdown.

This year started on a positive note for the powerhouse of Indiana Fever. Despite an ugly physical altercation in the season opener, Clark managed an impressive triple-double, along with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against Chicago Sky. Additionally, she even contributed four blocks and four three-pointers to lead the team’s dominant win.

The 2024 ROTY even helped DeWanna Bonner achieve a historic win on the home ground. And though yesterday’s feat was a blotch on the perfect run so far, will it ruin her chances of clinching the title? While the W GMs do not considering her as an active title holder, betting websites tell a different story.

According to MVP betting odds published by BetMGM, the Fever sensation is leading the votes with +195 odds. Yes, Caitlin is the topmost contender in the running for the MVP title. Having said that, DraftKings also predicted Clark as an MVP. With approximately 23% bets in her favour, the majority of voters aim for Clark to win the title. And why not!?

With an impressive 36-foot three-pointer from beyond the arc in the preseason, and 16-point contribution against Brazil, Clark was a spectacle. Not to forget a sweet sweep of 13 points against the Atlanta Dream. As she progressed to stand beside Sabrina Ionescu with 25 points and 11 assist in a single match, fans and analysts can see how the impactful player in Clark is clearly progressing towards the MVP crown.