Caitlin Clark’s health and shooting struggles continue to be a prevailing storyline as the Indiana Fever prepare to complete a road back-to-back against the New York Liberty on Wednesday.
Clark did score nine straight Indiana points late in the fourth quarter Tuesday, pushing the Fever past the Connecticut Sun 85-77 before a sold-out crowd in Boston. But after feeding Kelsey Mitchell for a layup with 39 seconds left, Clark grabbed at her right groin area.
The Fever (12-10) listed Clark as questionable on Wednesday to play against the Liberty (14-6).
Clark previously missed four regular-season games and the Commissioner’s Cup final with a left groin injury. Tuesday was her fourth game back. She has missed 10 total games this season, including the Cup final, with the groin injury, tightness in her quad and a quad strain.
“Just felt a little something in her groin, so we’ll get it evaluated and see what happens from there,” Fever coach Stephanie White said postgame.
Another factor in whether Clark plays is the quick turnaround and the WNBA All-Star break approaching. Clark was also confirmed to participate in the 3-point contest during All-Star festivities in Indianapolis on Friday.
Clark’s 3-point shooting sure is better in Indiana than abroad this year. She has made 2 of 35 attempts from long range on the road this season following a 1-for-7 showing Tuesday.
Clark will be one of the captains and starters for Saturday’s All-Star Game. The defending champion Liberty have multiple representatives going to Indianapolis this weekend, but sometimes it’s their depth scorers who save the day.
Leonie Fiebich scored a career-high 21 points in a comeback win over the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, after the Liberty fell behind by as many as 19 points in the second quarter and by 11 at halftime.
Fiebich shot 3-for-3 with two 3-pointers in the third period to help the Liberty turn the tables and pull away for a 79-72 win. It was the German forward’s first time leading the team in scoring this year.
“Love everything about Leo and what she brings to this team. She’s the ultimate professional, how she comes ready to play and selfless,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. “We’re encouraging her to shoot, obviously, and put her in the actions there because she’s the most pure shooter I’ve ever seen.”
An All-Rookie selection and runner-up for Sixth Player of the Year in 2024, Fiebich is averaging 8.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game and shooting 50 percent from deep (21 of 42).
“It helps when it goes in and I have the confidence to shoot another one,” Fiebich said. “But I think what really made us good in that third quarter is (Breanna Stewart) bringing up the ball, being the point guard and having her just initiating the action and making really smart decisions.”
Stewart, of course, is normally a power forward and is heading to her seventh All-Star Game this weekend. So is Sabrina Ionescu, who’s averaging 18.8 points per game but shot 3-for-20 overall and 0-for-7 from the arc against Atlanta.
–Field Level Media
