Caitlin Clark vents frustrations over scrutiny about recent back injury

[Mickey the Mouth]

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark sounded off in her pregame news conference before Friday’s game against the Golden State Valkyries, detailing why she missed Wednesday’s win over the Portland Fire due to a back injury and dismissing what she described as inaccurate online narratives. Clark was ruled out 100 minutes before tipoff, but she returned to action against the Valkyries.

Clark seemed to take exception to questions from reporters about her health and her status. The Fever had been issued a warning by the WNBA for not disclosing Clark’s impending absence from Wednesday’s game.

“Tuesday, I was here (at Gainbridge Fieldhouse). I got treatment, as I’ve done many practices before. As many of my teammates have done,” Clark said. “I had every intention of playing. Didn’t indicate I wasn’t gonna play. Approached Wednesday, that was the day of our game, as (if) I was 100 percent playing. Woke up Wednesday, felt a little sore. Texted our training staff, texted my personal physio.”

Clark then sarcastically provided non-injury-related details of her Wednesday.

“You want to know what I ate for breakfast, too?” Clark asked rhetorically. “So, then I had a fillet. I had two eggs over medium. I had potatoes and two blueberry waffles with butter and syrup.”

“Then I had (physical therapy) at home. Then I came down here about 1 o’clock, and we tried to do everything we can. Got on the court, I lifted, went through a hard workout.”

Clark then took aim at what she characterized as online misinformation about the timeline of when she was officially ruled out. The Fever announced her absence via their X account at 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday, which was 10 minutes before fans could enter Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The WNBA’s official injury report was updated to account for Clark at 5:30 p.m.

“I actually went back and looked because of all of these narratives that are going crazy online about when I told my mom I wasn’t playing in the game, (that was at) 4:47,” Clark said. “You guys found out at 5:20. So, one of the most important people in my life found out 40 minutes before you guys did.”

Most professional sports league require some degree of transparency on injury reports, in part, to ensure competitive fairness.

Clark also discussed the mental toll of coming back from an injury-riddled 2025 campaign that limited her to 13 games. Through the Fever’s first four games this season, she is averaging 24.3 points, nine assists and five rebounds. Clark had also left the Fever’s season-opener to receive treatment on her back before returning to the game, and she said that her back can “get out of line” quickly.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Indiana Fever, WNBA

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Continue reading...