Tough breaks just keep piling up for the Indiana Fever. It feels like bad news is chasing them down at every turn. First, the franchise parted ways with two-time WNBA champion DeWanna Bonner, a move that stunned fans. Then came the gut punch: superstar Caitlin Clark was sidelined against the L.A. Sparks due to injury. And the Fever paid dearly for it, falling 75-85 in a game they desperately needed. That loss dragged their win streak down to 7-8, a frustrating record for a team of Indiana’s caliber. Now, the situation’s spiraling, and things aren’t looking any brighter for the Fever faithful.

Friday’s highly anticipated showdown between Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark had the entire hoops world buzzing. But now, another gut punch. Caitlin Clark has officially been ruled out for tonight’s clash in Dallas, a brutal blow for Indiana. Once a player who never missed a game in her rookie year, Clark’s now battling the injury bug. It’s a cruel twist for someone charting such an impressive early-career path. While injuries aren’t rare in any sport. But still, for a talent of her caliber, this one stings. The setback will inevitably take a toll, physically, mentally, and on the Fever’s playoff push.

But what exactly is this injury, and why has it sidelined Caitlin Clark for two straight games? Let’s unpack that.

What injury happened to Caitlin Clark?

The Indiana Fever suffered a major blow on June 26 when Caitlin Clark was unexpectedly ruled out against the Los Angeles Sparks. While the Fever pulled off a gutsy win, losing their star guard stung far worse than the scoreboard suggested. Clark appeared to tweak her groin in the final seconds of a victory over the Seattle Storm. She hit the floor while trying to evade a defender with just 12 seconds left in a settled game. The play had zero impact on the outcome, making the injury feel painfully unnecessary in hindsight.

This groin injury now adds to a growing list of lower-body setbacks for Caitlin Clark this season. Earlier, she missed time battling a nagging left quad injury. Now, she’s sidelined again, ruled out for tonight’s crucial game in Dallas. A recent update on X (formerly Twitter) officially confirmed the bad news, rattling Fever fans. The post read, “Caitlin Clark has been ruled out for tonight in Dallas — a game moved to American Airlines Center. She’s dealing with a left groin injury. It’ll be her 7th game missed this season.”  From the Fever’s perspective, this couldn’t have come at a worse time.

It remains unclear whether this groin injury is connected to Caitlin Clark’s earlier left leg or quad issues. But make no mistake, it’s serious. Clark wouldn’t sit out back-to-back games if it weren’t significant, especially with the Fever finally finding their rhythm.

How many games has Caitlin Clark missed, and why?

Caitlin Clark never missed a game in college or her rookie WNBA year until injuries caught up with her recently. Just over a week ago, Clark returned from a left quad injury that sidelined her for five frustrating games. Now, she’s missed a total of seven contests in her debut season. Between May 28 and June 10, the quad issue benched her for five straight matchups. And while she was out, the Fever’s chemistry hit the floor hard. The numbers confirmed it, too. Indiana went 2-3 across those five games without their superstar guard.

This shows just how much Caitlin Clark means to this Indiana Fever squad. She even missed the team’s first preseason game on May 3 with a left leg issue, though it wasn’t tied to her quad injury. Tonight’s absence, however, marks her seventh missed game, this time with a left groin strain. Despite the setbacks, Clark’s numbers are still remarkable. She is still averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, and 5.6 rebounds in just nine appearances. 

The concern still hangs heavy in Indiana. The Fever dropped their last game without Caitlin Clark, and now face a tough matchup against the Dallas Wings and Paige Bueckers. If history repeats itself, it’s a scenario that Fever fans are desperate to avoid. But win or lose, the season’s still young, leaving plenty of room to recover from these early stumbles. The bigger question now isn’t about standings. It’s when Caitlin Clark will finally get back on the court.

When Can Caitlin Clark Potentially Return?

Before this news officially broke, Fever head coach Stephanie White addressed Caitlin Clark’s status during the pregame press conference against the Sparks. White revealed she learned of Clark’s injury late Wednesday night, after team trainers sent her for an MRI. “I think it’s very much a day-to-day thing … how she responds to treatment,” White said when asked about a possible timetable for Clark’s return. And now the Fever are set to tip off again in just a few hours against the Wings in Dallas. And White admitted Clark’s possible availability will be a game-time consideration based on how she’s feeling.

“Certainly, in my mind, it is,” White said of the Fever’s relentless schedule. “At the same time, she has shown she’s tough and a quick healer, so we’ll see.” And truthfully, it’s a brutal stretch. The timing couldn’t be worse for Caitlin Clark or the Fever’s hopes for a good start. With Clark now set to miss two consecutive games, no clear return timeline has been offered. But as the old saying goes, there’s light after darkness. Sitting out these games gives Caitlin Clark a vital window to heal properly and avoid risking long-term damage. She could use the upcoming five-day break before Thursday’s showdown with the Las Vegas Aces to recharge and regroup.

Even Dan Blewett, author of “This Slump Shall Pass,” backed the Fever’s call to sit Caitlin Clark, calling it a smart, necessary move. He said, “Because you want to protect your players from not losing their confidence from something that’s beyond their control and their health is beyond their control in large part,” And he’s right. That’s the tough truth that everybody knows but nobody likes to admit in pro sports such as WNBA. There’s still time for the Fever to regroup, but healing doesn’t happen overnight. From the outside, it seems Indiana Fever’s front office is prepared to give Clark that space. Her return will hinge on how her groin responds to treatment over the upcoming days.