Turns out August 7th handed Indiana more than just a 35-point loss and season-ending injuries to two point guards. Recently emerged reports reveal that the streak of ‘bad luck’ followed Caitlin Clark to Phoenix, leading to a bone bruise. The news around her practice time was hardly positive when Scott Agness reported, “she is bothered by this ankle injury.” But before the crowd could get restless, the Fieldhouse Files writer cleared the air.

The last two times Caitlin Clark returned from injury, there was one common concern: not enough practice time. So Stephanie White & Co. have made it clear that the reigning ROTY won’t be suiting up this time until she has gotten back into rhythm. Meaning, consistent practice sessions before the next step. Did the newly revealed ankle injury hinder that timeline? Scott Agness says no. With or without the “very mild” bone bruise, Clark would still be rehabbing her groin injury– something the Fever have confirmed, too.

So now, what’s the status on her groin injury? The beat reporter reveals we might expect some practice time soon. “No, it’s not five days in a row, but there is practice time for them to reintegrate her when she is ready. The hope is for them to have a plan this weekend to formulate it and for her to potentially rejoin them next week. That is TBD, but that is the hope at this juncture from all parties I think involved,” Agness says. 

Clark’s injury has been an unusual one, or in Sophie Cunningham’s words, “weird.” The Fever guard reveals that the pain isn’t constant, but “when you do hurt it you’re out for another…” So the Fever are treading cautiously. A spokesperson even admitted that Clark is being given as much time as possible to return fully healthy to the court. But Coach White knows it is frustrating.

“She just wants to play basketball. She’s in the mindset that she’s hungry,” she revealed. “She’s working her butt off to get back in those situations. I think each time you have a tweak, or each time you have something else, it’s frustrating.”

One positive, however, is that the ankle injury hasn’t hindered Clark’s return timeline. 3 days after suffering the injury, White had an update: the 23-year-old was running full court with all of her bodyweight. The news may have arrived late — because Agness says he wasn’t in Phoenix to know and report the case — but it Clark is progressing well. Whether she returns this season, though? It remains to be seen. The Fever have only 9 games remaining, and for Clark to get into the rhythm first, it’s a tricky timeline.

With any hope, the 23-year-old returns soon, if she doesn’t, expect another hot take from a seemingly superfan, Skip Bayless.

Sophie Cunningham Defends Caitlin Clark After Skip Bayless’ ‘Mental Breaks’ Claim: “Bulls—”

Skip Bayless has been one to regularly jump in Clark’s defense, and more often than not, his claims have been bizarre and unproven. Previously, he believed the Fever guard missed the All-Star weekend to teach her peers a lesson about her value. Now, he had a theory to reason her being sidelined for so long. “Maybe Caitlin Clark has taken a couple of “injury” breaks just because she needed a mental break from all the jealousy and resentment and bullying and cheap shot,” he said.

In a way, Bayless was defending Clark, but the wording did not sit well with everyone.

Though it took her weeks, Sophie Cunningham responded to Bayless’s remarks during an episode of her ‘Show Me Something’ podcast. Without hesitation, she stated, “That’s literally bulls–t. No one’s lying. Here’s the thing. When you’re an elite-level player, you not being able to play is the hardest part, mentally, physically, emotionally. When people say stuff like that, I’m just like ‘shut up.’”

Unlike Bayless, Cunningham has inside knowledge of Clark’s injury recovery. During the same episode of her podcast, she revealed that “She (Clark) doesn’t even know (when she’ll be back). Literally, it’s a day-by-day legit type of thing. You have to remember she would be playing if she wasn’t in the WNBA right now. At this level, with how deep and how good people are nowadays in our league, which is the best it’s ever been just trying to get her back in game shape is what they’re trying to do”.

Caitlin Clark is carrying the hopes of thousands. With any luck, she returns soon as the Fever gear up to face a tough schedule.