Caitlin Clark Expected To Return For Fever Against Valkyries After Five-game Absence

After missing nan past 5 games, Caitlin Clark appears connected nan cusp of returning to nan tribunal for nan Indiana Fever. 

Head coach Stephanie White told reporters connected Tuesday that she expects her prima constituent defender to beryllium disposable against nan Golden State Valkyries connected Wednesday nighttime astatine home.

"If there’s nary setbacks aft today, I expect her being available," White said. 

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Indiana Fever defender Caitlin Clark smiles arsenic she looks to nan squad chair aft making a walk to nan handbasket that lead to a people successful nan 2nd half of a WNBA hoops crippled against nan Dallas Wings Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, successful Arlington, Texas.  (Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)

Clark admitted it's been difficult watching her squad from nan sideline, truthful she enjoyed a afloat believe connected Monday pinch her teammates. 

"Yeah, I conscionable deliberation it’s bully to get backmost retired location and get into nan travel of playing pinch my teammates again," she said. "It’s going to beryllium nosy to get backmost retired location hopefully and conscionable consciousness things again."

FEVER RULE OUT CAITLIN CLARK FOR 4TH-STRAIGHT GAME AHEAD OF ALL-STAR BREAK

The mobility is what White will do successful position of Clark's minutes if she is so disposable connected Tuesday night. 

Clark has noticed successful nan past she doesn't for illustration minutes restrictions erstwhile she's patient capable to play. However, she understands White has to do her occupation to make judge the Fever travel distant pinch nan victory.

"I don’t cognize nan type of minutes I’m going to get and what it will look like, but conscionable compete and play hard," Clark said. "This is going to beryllium a squad that’s moving constantly, truthful conscionable beryllium alert and active. Bring energy. It’s difficult sitting retired for a fewer weeks, truthful I’m decidedly excited to get backmost retired there."

Indiana Fever defender Caitlin Clark (22) reacts aft a handbasket against nan Atlanta Dream successful nan first half astatine State Farm Arena. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)

Clark added that she hopes for a "decent amount" of minutes if she plays, preferably successful nan "upper-20s."

"Depends connected really I consciousness and really nan crippled goes, and what nan squad needs arsenic well," she said. 

The Fever person gone 3-2 successful Clark's latest absence this season. She missed 5 games earlier successful nan twelvemonth pinch a near quad strain.

White discussed really her squad has looked since Clark, who nan discourtesy usually runs done erstwhile she's connected nan court, has been sidelined.

Indiana Fever defender Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles nan shot during nan 2nd half of a WNBA hoops crippled against nan Las Vegas Aces astatine T-Mobile Arena. (Lucas Peltier/Imagn Images)

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"First and foremost, our protect power and effort had been really good," she said. "Our mobility, our activity level, our expertise to execute schemes, for nan astir part, had been really good. We’ve had protect versatility, and I emotion offensively really nan ball’s moving. Multiple players getting touches, we’re moving nan shot broadside to side. We’re getting high-percentage looks, and that’s been a portion of conscionable conversations arsenic ‘C’ gets backmost connected nan floor."

In nan 9 games she has played this season, Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists and 5 rebounds per game.

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