35, 27, 30—these aren’t just random numbers. They’re the distances from which Caitlin Clark is known to bury logo threes, and that fact alone was enough for many to consider her for last year’s NBA All-Star Weekend. But the guard chose not to compete, and she had a reason to back it up. For Clark, making her three-point contest debut in Indianapolis—her new home— and for the W mattered more. So you can imagine the real anticipation when she said, “Two in a row, two more to go till All-Star, let’s go!” ahead of the rematch against the Connecticut Sun. But little did she know, just three days before the big moment, her dreams would hang by a thread! But she has got just the right team by her side.

It all came up during the Indiana Fever’s win over the Sun. Well, it was under a minute left, right after she assisted on the Fever’s final basket when she walked downcourt holding her right groin, while her teammate AB tried to console her. And then? She walked over to the basket stanchion and gently banged her head against it in frustration before heading to the bench. But the real emotions came during the timeout, she covered her head with a towel and appeared to be holding back tears.

Now, missing time due to a third injury in less than a year is already devastating. But what hurts even more is the uncertainty surrounding her WNBA All-Star Weekend status—especially since she’s not just a participant but the All-Star captain and highest vote-getter, slated to compete in a loaded three-point contest on Friday night. But as she navigates, Stephanie White is ensuring Clark has the right support and that she hears the right words.

“”You know, anybody who’s been injured, as most of us have right now, being injured and continuing to have setbacks is frustrating, mentally, emotionally, and oftentimes, being injured is isolating. So you know, from my standpoint, the primary conversations that we’ve had last night and today are just checking in. ‘Are you good? How can we help?'” the head coach explained.

It’s a tough and emotional stretch for Clark who has remained elusive to injuries throughout her college and first year in the league. She has had to deal with it thrice just this year. First with quad tightness that kept her out of the preseason opener, then a quad strain in May that sidelined her for five games. While she returned healthy from that, she later suffered a left groin injury, which cost her another five games. And now? She’s dealing with a right groin injury.

While it hasn’t been confirmed if she’s re-aggravated a past injury, it’s entirely possible. As Coach White explained, “I know oftentimes when you’re working with injuries in the groin and the quad and the hamstring, they’re all kind of tied together… it’s not always just one thing.” That’s why the Fever are leaving the final decision to Clark herself.

“There’s been no discussion yet about this weekend,” White said. “There was imaging done, but there hasn’t been any discussion beyond tonight.” And it makes sense. Clark has only played 13 of the Fever’s 22 games so far, and while she’s averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 31.1 minutes per game, it’s clear she’s been struggling to regain her rookie rhythm. That’s why, perhaps, giving the ESPY’s Player of the Year the time and space she deserves is the right call. But the question still looms—what if she can’t play?

No Caitlin Clark means no spark!

Well, when CC is off the floor, the WNBA feels it. Remember when she first went out due to a quad injury? That’s when, according to Nielsen via USA Today, nationally televised WNBA games dropped a staggering 55% in viewership, with Indiana Fever broadcasts down 53%.

It was the first time since her arrival that the league got a clear glimpse of life without the Caitlin Clark Effect—and let’s just say, it’s quieter. It’s not surprising, though. A CBS broadcast of Fever vs. Liberty on May 24—Clark’s last game before the injury—drew 2.22 million viewers. Just two weeks later, a Clark-less Fever game on the same network against the Chicago Sky pulled 1.92 million, despite being a marquee matchup.

That said, the upcoming All-Star Game could be a turning point as fans are eagerly anticipating Clark’s return, and her matchup against MVP candidate Napheesa Collier’s team. Even more compelling? She’ll be facing the same head coach who was controversially accused last year of keeping her off the Team USA roster. The weekend has all the excitement Clark is ready for. But whether she is able to make it remains the large question.