Caitlin Clark’s groin injury further dents the already-sputtering Indiana Fever’s 2025 WNBA season. The second-year guard missed the game against the Los Angeles Sparks, which ended in an 85-75 loss for the team. This marks the former Iowa star’s second injury of the regular season, following a quad issue earlier on.
Clark appeared to injure her left groin in the final seconds of Indiana’s win over the Seattle Storm earlier in the week. The guard hit the hardwood as she looked to shake off a defender. The Fever were up by eight points during that time, and went on to win 94-86.
And now, she will miss her first matchup with Paige Bueckers.
Caitlin Clark Is Officially Out for Marquee Matchup Against Paige Bueckers and Wings
Clark will not play in one of the most anticipated matchups of the WNBA season, as the Fever star has officially been ruled out for the Fever’s game against the Dallas Wings and 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick, Bueckers.
Yahoo Sports was among the first to report that the superstar will miss her seventh game of the campaign.
BREAKING: Caitlin Clark has been ruled out for tonight’s game vs. the Dallas Wings due to a groin injury, the team announced.
It will be Clark’s 7th game missed this season. pic.twitter.com/ODKc1OHh1i
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 27, 2025
Prior to Friday’s official announcement, ESPN’s updated injury report had Clark listed as day-to-day. This comes on the back of head coach Stephanie White’s grim update after the loss to the Storm.
“I think it’s very much a day-to-day thing … how she responds to treatment,” White said, according to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews. “Certainly, in my mind, it is. At the same time, she has shown she’s tough and a quick healer, so we’ll see.”
This is the first season Clark has missed a significant number of games after playing all 40 during her rookie year. This time around, she has played nine out of 15 games. Before the groin injury, she struggled with her shot, connecting on just one of 23 attempts from beyond the 3-point line.
Her absence will disappoint WNBA fans, as Friday’s game would be the first time she would play against Bueckers, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Both guards last played each other in the 2024 NCAA women’s basketball tournament Final Four.
Both stars have enjoyed a rich run of form despite their teams’ struggles throughout the season.
Clark averages 18.2 points, five rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game, while Bueckers contributes 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. The Fever holds a 7-8 record, sitting ninth in the WNBA standings, while Dallas is second-to-last with only four wins in 16 games. However, the team is on a run of good form, having won three of their last four games.
While both stars’ teams face an uphill battle, both players continue to deliver impressive numbers. Their contributions highlight their significance as each team aims to find its rhythm and make a strong push in the latter part of the season.
