After not missing a single game last season, Caitlin Clark has missed over half of the Indiana Fever’s outings this season due to a groin injury. During an appearance on the Bird’s Eye View with Sue Bird podcast, Clark opened up the pressure she feels to return to the court. “It’s hard, because obviously I […]
After not missing a single game last season, Caitlin Clark has missed over half of the Indiana Fever’s outings this season due to a groin injury. During an appearance on the Bird’s Eye View with Sue Bird podcast, Clark opened up the pressure she feels to return to the court.
“It’s hard, because obviously I do feel this responsibility of being out there and playing,” Clark said. “… And not that I think there’s a fear of any of this going away. That doesn’t happen when like, LeBron or Steph get hurt. [Fans] are always going to be there.
”But you do want to play, you want to give people something to cheer about or scream about. People spend so much time, and money, and resources to come and watch you play. And it’s been cool to see people continue to show up for my teammates, whether they’re fans of the Fever just fans of myself, they’re continuing to show up and support.”
Clark has missed the Fever’s last nine games and 18 games total this season. The Fever are 8-5 with Clark this season and 9-9 without her. The team recently went on a five-game win streak, but have fallen in a slump since then, losing their last two contests.
Clark’s absence not only hurts the Fever, but the entire WNBA. The league has experienced a massive surge in popularity since Clark was drafted last year.
Clark’s impact on the league’s viewership was never more obvious than during this year’s WNBA All-Star weekend. When Clark played in the WNBA All-Star Game last season, there were 3.44 million viewers. Those ratings dipped 36% to 2.19 million viewers this year with Clark out, per Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports.
While Clark wants to get back on the hardwood, she also doesn’t want to return too early and produce subpar performances. Clark is averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game. However, she’s shooting just 36.7% from the field and 27.9% from beyond the arc.
Caitlin Clark’s inefficiency this season is largely due to her injuries and lack of a rhythm. The two-time WNBA All-Star revealed the advice her mother gave her about returning from injury.
“Early on with the first couple injuries, I was like, ‘I need to get back,’” Clark said. “But I think my mom texted after this last injury, and they know how hard it’s been on me, but my mom was like,’ You’ve taken so much time for everybody else, you have to take time for yourself now.’ So I’m just trying to do that the best I can, too.”
Category: General Sports
