Caitlin Clark Ruled Out vs Portland Fire Due to Back Soreness

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was ruled out of Wednesday night's home game against the Portland Fire less than two hours before tipoff due to back soreness. The decision was announced after Clark was not listed on the team's injury report the previous day.

Head coach Stephanie White said Clark woke up Wednesday morning with stiffness and soreness, prompting the team's cautious approach. Clark had also missed Tuesday's practice to receive treatment. White emphasized the decision was precautionary and not related to broader workload management for the third-year player.

"It's not the time to take a chance. We just really want to be cautious," White said. "She's healthy. We're not managing anything. This is just a back issue that we want to make sure we give the time to be ready."

The back issue is not new for Clark this season. During the Fever's season opener on May 9 against the Dallas Wings, she left the bench twice for adjustments, later stating her back "gets out of line pretty quickly." She played the next three games without incident.

Clark, the 2024 number one overall draft pick and reigning Rookie of the Year, is averaging team highs of 24.3 points and 9.0 assists...