The Indiana Fever’s first game without Caitlin Clark went poorly Wednesday night, and the Washington Mystics, despite coming into the game on a three-game losing streak, took advantage.
The Mystics pulled ahead in the fourth quarter to defeat the Fever 83-77 at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore. The Fever played their first game since Caitlin Clark suffered a quad injury.
Caitlin Clark Injury Update: Timeline and Impact
The Fever stated on Monday that Caitlin Clark would be out for at least two weeks due to a left quad strain. It’s unclear when Caitlin Clark acquired the injury, but it’s supposedly new to her. She played 37 minutes in Saturday’s loss to the New York Liberty and appeared to be in good health throughout.
Clark will miss at least three more games due to his injury. Caitlin Clark hadn’t missed a regular-season game since 2017, when she was a sophomore in high school in West Des Moines, Iowa. If her timeline holds, Caitlin Clark might return for the Fever’s game against the Atlanta Dream on June 10.
Clark has averaged 19 points, 9.3 assists, and six rebounds in four games this season, ranking second in the league.
Despite not playing, Caitlin Clark seemed to be in a good mood at CFG Bank Arena. She signed autographs for fans before the game and wandered about with a camera, snapping pictures of everyone during warmups. Throughout the game, she sat on the bench next to her coaches and participated actively.
She didn’t hesitate to praise the officials as the Fever headed into the locker room behind by four points at halftime.
The Mystics increased their lead to seven points by the end of the third quarter. They limited the Fever to just 13 points and five field goals during the quarter. Though Indiana started the fourth quarter well and trimmed the lead to four points, the Mystics replied with a trio of fast layups from rookie Kiki Iriafen to regain control right away. Shakira Austin responded with a massive block on Aliyah Boston a few minutes later.
From there, Washington limited the Fever to two field goals the rest of the way, one of which was a buzzer-beating shot from DeWanna Bonner en route to a six-point victory.
Bonner led the Mystics with 21 points from the bench. She achieved a significant career milestone during the triumph. Bonner became the first player in NBA history to record 7,500 points, 3,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists. Kelsey Mitchell added 14 points, and Natasha Howard had 11 points and six rebounds. The Fever went 4-of-19 from three-point range, and Sydney Colson, who replaced Caitlin Clark in the starting lineup, was restricted to four points.
Brittney Sykes led the Mystics with 21 points and nine rebounds in the win, bringing their record to 3-3 on the season. Iriafen finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Austin contributed 13 off the bench.
Caitlin Clark’s recent injury scare seems to be minor, which comes as a relief to both fans and the Indiana Fever. Early concerns about her condition have been eased by updates suggesting that she’s expected to bounce back quickly.
While the injury may not be serious, there’s no question that the Fever perform at a higher level when Clark is operating at full strength. Her energy, court vision, and scoring ability are central to the team’s success.
Wednesday night’s game in Baltimore served as a clear reminder of what Clark brings to the table. Even with limited minutes, her impact was evident on both ends of the court, helping to lift the team’s performance.
As the season progresses, maintaining Clark’s health will be key. The Fever will be counting on her continued presence and leadership as they push for consistency and playoff contention.
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