Caitlin Clark Holds Back Tears After Leaving Game Early Due to Ongoing Groin Injury

NEED TO KNOW

• Caitlin Clark reinjured her groin during Tuesday night's game
• The Indiana Fever star originally suffered the injury on June 24
• Clark's availability is in question for Wednesday's game, and for the upcoming WNBA All-Star Game
  

Caitlin Clark is dealing with another setback.

The Indiana Fever star reinjured her groin during the waning minutes of the team’s 85-77 win against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, July 15.

Following the game, Fever head coach Stephanie White said Clark “felt a little something in her groin” and that she “will get it evaluated and see what happens from there.”

The two-time WNBA All-Star was seen with a towel over her head and wore a defeated expression after the injury, which occurred on a non-contact play in which she threw a bounce pass to teammate Kelsey Mitchell.

After Mitchell scored, Clark held her hand to her lower mid-section, winced and then gingerly walked off the court, as the Fever’s Aliyah Boston came over to check on her.

Injuries have plagued the basketball phenom’s second season in the W — and are something she’s never had to contend with before.

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In May, Clark suffered a left quad injury during the Fever’s 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty and went on to miss five games. Exactly a month later, she suffered a left groin injury in a June 24 game against the Seattle Storm.

Clark missed another five games, including a much-anticipated matchup on June 27 at a sold-out American Airlines Center in Dallas, where she was to face the Wings and their rookie sensation Paige Bueckers. 

The Iowa standout’s latest injury calls into question her availability for Wednesday night’s game against the Liberty — and for this weekend’s WNBA All-Star Game in front of her fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Last week, the reigning Rookie of the Year spoke out about the mental challenges she is facing while dealing with her physical injuries.

"It's honestly been hard, I'm not gonna lie to you,” Clark told reporters. “It's difficult going to prepare for games, but knowing you're not going to be playing in them. It's challenged me mentally. It's really hard to stop and go, stop and go, stop and go, especially when you're not feeling your best. Just trying to get my body as healthy as I can be and remain confident in myself."

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