Caitlin Clark was not on the injury report heading into Wednesday night, and the Indiana Fever appeared to be getting her back alongside a returning Aliyah Boston for the Portland Fire game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The news broke just hours before tip-off, and it doesn’t sound good at all.
What Is Caitlin Clark’s Injury Status?
According to the Fever, Clark will miss the game against the Fire with a back injury. The news comes as a shock, especially considering the fact that she was not on the injury report on Tuesday, or early Wednesday.
Status Update: Caitlin Clark (back) is out today. https://t.co/f8tR4ld5D7
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 20, 2026
The back issue is the same one that sent her to the locker room twice during the season opener against the Dallas Wings on May 9, when she described getting her back put back in place as a routine part of managing her body through a long season.
Stephanie White dismissed any serious injury concerns after that game, and Clark went on to play in the next three games without incident. This includes a 21-point, 10-assist game against the Seattle Storm on Sunday. She is currently averaging 24.3 points and a league-leading 9.0 assists per game through four games.
Stephanie White: “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.” https://t.co/HmA02nY8OQ
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) May 20, 2026
White also dropped a statement on resting the face of the franchise. “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,” she said.
The concern now is whether this back issue requires more than one game to properly address. Clark played only 13 games in 2025 due to a right groin strain that was initially described as minor but kept her sidelined through the summer.
The Fever and their medical staff are clearly not taking any chances this time around. Ruling her out after a pregame walkthrough, rather than pushing her through, clearly indicates they’re playing it safe.
On the other side, the Fire arrive at Gainbridge Fieldhouse with their own injury report. Iyana Martin and Nika Muhl have both been ruled out for the season, Teja Oblak and Karlie Samuelson are out, and Carla Leite and Kamiah Smalls are questionable.
Portland has already posted wins over the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun. And Clark’s absence will certainly give the Fire an advantage.
Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Myisha Hines-Allen will have to carry Indiana’s offense. Clark’s return timeline will be updated as the Fever receives more information from the medical staff.
Raven Johnson is also a player that the Fire would have to watch out for. White has often sung her praises. Given that Clark’s is officially ruled out, Fever fans can expect to see the former South Carolina star on the floor for a longer period of time.
