Caitlin Clark is OK after injury scare in preseason game
Caitlin Clark says she’s “fine” after a brief injury scare during a preseason game Thursday.
“I feel good,” the Indiana Fever goalie said after the 95-80 loss to the Dallas Wings. “I just landed really hard on my kneecap.”
The two-time All Star was in visible pain after being fouled and falling to the ground early in the third quarter. Wings forward Alanna Smith tried to block Clark’s 3-point attempt, but didn’t give the shooter space to land. It appears Clark landed on Smith’s foot before both players fell to the ground. After review, the referees transformed the foul into Flagrant 1.
Clark was seen limping around the court before making two of her three free throws. She left the match immediately afterwards and watched the rest of the match from the bench. Clark scored 21 points in 16 minutes of play, going 4 of 6 from the field and making 11 of 13 free throws.
“We had planned for her to come out at that point anyway,” Fever coach Stephanie White said after the game, adding that Clark did not need further evaluation. “It was just an extra precaution, I think, to get her out at that time. [But] the plan was for her to start the third quarter, then we would quickly take her out.
Fellow Fever All-Star Kelsey Mitchell finished with 10 points in 17 minutes, while Aliyah Boston sat out the game with a lower leg injury.
It was Clark’s first game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse since July after being sidelined with injuries for much of the 2025 season. The Fever star also praised officials “on both sides” after addressing concerns about injury scares.
“I think the refs did a really good job tonight,” Clark said. “I know there was a committee of people who really wanted them to start making decisions and I thought they did a great job.”
The game marked the preseason debut for this year’s No. 1 draft pick, Azzi Fudd, who scored four points in 16 minutes. Paige Bueckers, the Wings’ All Star and reigning Rookie of the Year, led her team with 20 points in 20 minutes on 8-of-12 shooting.
