Is this the right move?
ESPN Analyst Urges Indiana Fever to Make Bold Caitlin Clark Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Caitlin Clark missed her 12th game of the season on Tuesday as the Indiana Fever suffered a disappointing 98-84 loss at the hands of the defending champions, the New York Liberty.
Clark was forced to miss Indiana’s first game following the All-Star break due to a right groin injury, which was the same issue that kept her out for five straight contests in June and July. Concerningly, this is the 23-year-old’s fourth soft tissue injury this season.
There’s no denying that Clark’s sophomore year has been riddled with multiple injuries thus far. This is exactly why ESPN analyst Carolyn Peck is now urging the Fever to make a bold decision regarding their cornerstone superstar, with the team's long-term goals in mind.
"I think that Indiana has enough to play without her to kind of hold steady in playoff position," Peck said. "I think that in the month of July, you've got four games. I say she sits those four because when you start August and you look at Indiana's schedule, four games on the road."
"I can't tell you how important it is to be at home and to be able to rehab at your facility so that you can be strong enough to finish the second half of August. Because I think that if you give her time, and you let her rest, then you give her an opportunity to continue to make that run as Indiana gets going."
The Fever are without Caitlin Clark, but for how long? 🕐
— espnW (@espnW) July 23, 2025
WNBA Countdown breaks down the Fever without Clark 🍿 pic.twitter.com/8ghO8WdV6V
The Fever play three more games in July, which include a highly anticipated matchup against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky on Sunday. In her mind, Peck believes that Clark would be better off sitting out the remainder of the month in preparation for the home stretch in August and the WNBA Playoffs in September.
While this might be the more prudent approach in terms of avoiding another re-aggravation of the groin issue, a move such as this comes with inherent risk. The Fever fell to 12-12 following Tuesday’s loss to New York, and they have slipped to seventh in the WNBA.
As of writing, the ninth-placed Golden State Valkyries are just one game behind the Fever. This only means that Indiana is in serious danger of missing out on the playoffs if they fail to finish within the Top 8.
Carolyn Peck’s Controversial Caitlin Clark Take
Peck previously drew some backlash after she made a statement about the Fever being a “more dangerous” side with Clark out of the picture. The former WNBA coach issued her strong take as the Fever secured the Commissioner’s Cup title with a win against the league-best Minnesota Lynx on July 1—with Clark watching from the bench.
The Fever, however, have now lost two in a row amid Clark’s most recent injury absence. There’s no denying that Indiana has proven that they are capable of winning without the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, but their more recent performances suggest that they need Clark back as soon as possible.
This now puts Indiana in a dilemma as it weighs its options. Do they let Clark sit out for an extended period to let her heal completely, or should they bring her back as soon as she's healthy enough amid their playoff push?
Related: Stephanie White Sends Urgent Message to Indiana Fever After Caitlin Clark Injury News
Related: Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese Rematch in Doubt After Concerning Injury Update
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
