INDIANAPOLIS – Kate Rinklerk never missed a game in college or professional career. That will change on Wednesday.
Clark has been diagnosed with a left quad strain, and Indiana Fever announced Monday, missing a minimum of two weeks before it’s revalued.
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“I don’t know when it happened,” Fever director Stephanie White said. “(After the Liberty Game) we got the message that something was going on with her feet and they had an MRI, so we got the words.”
This left quadriceps is a new injury, White said. That’s not a recount of the left quad injuries Clark had in the preseason. It’s the first time Clark has missed an official game in her college and WNBA career. She played all 139 games while she was in Iowa, then began her professional career with 46 games.
It’s unknown to Clark, a fierce competitor who hasn’t missed the game for over five years. But like all injuries, White and her staff want to make sure they deal with it completely.
“Given Caitlyn and her don’t want to miss the game, she’s clearly a competitor and wants to play. Clearly everyone wants to see her play, right?” White said. “But for me, I maintain my perspective, I make sure I deal with this in a way that doesn’t have a long-term impact, don’t push too much.
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Clark misses at least four games, including Wednesday’s game in Washington, Baltimore, Maryland. Friday’s match against Connecticut. June 3rd, against Washington. June 7th at United Center in Chicago. She will be reevaluated on June 9th. This is one day before fever plays in Atlanta on June 10th.
White added that he is unaware of the specific tensions that Clark had injured. However, it could be a Grade I or II strain based on a 2-week revaluation timeline. According to the Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Center, Grade I strains are mild, with only a small number of muscle fibers involved, usually with pain and tension, but no loss of function. It usually takes two weeks to recover from Grade I strains. Grade II strains are a little serious, losing some function and usually take 4-6 weeks to fully recover.
last time: Fever Squander 12 Points 4th Quarter vs. New York
For now, White said it’s a great opportunity for Clark to gain a different perspective on the game.
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“It’s true, we have it earlier than we want to slow it down,” White said of Clark’s injury. “It’s a great opportunity for teams to find their identity. It’s a great opportunity for teams to play differently. I also think it’s a great opportunity for Caitlin to grow from the sidelines and see what they might be talking about about the film, like a coaching-like mindset, and see what they might be talking about, and watch practical action.”
Clark is out for at least two weeks and Fever has a big gap to fill.
Clark averaged 19 points, 6.0 assists and 9.3 rebounds in the first four games of the season, earning a triple double against the hot season-opening skies.
“It’s a tough break, but it’s something you have a team,” Feverguard Kelsey Mitchell said. “I hope that when C2 (Caitlin) returns, they will put themselves in a position to set themselves up to maintain this rolling.”
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Fever will not be able to trade all the unique parts of Clark’s game, such as long-range 3-pointers and innate passing abilities, but there are players who can fill the gap.
Sidney Colson, 35, is the official Indiana backup point guard. She has 10 years of experience in the league, mostly in backup roles, signing off on offseason fever. She averages eight minutes in three games. She has four points, two rebounds, one assist and three steels in the season.
Another option to fill out in points is Sophie Cunningham, who took over this season when Fever stripped Clark off the ball. She missed the first two games of the season with an ankle injury, but has mainly been working as a backup PG on the court since her return.
Cunningham is versatile as a 6-1 wing and can handle the ball, but she also brings many sparks to off-ball action.
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Mitchell was also able to spend time at the points, like in the previous season. She has done it rarely this year so far, and Fever’s coaching staff prefers to keep her away from the ball as a shooting guard.
All three of these players are options to take over point guard duties, whether by the committee or delegated to one person.
“I wanted to use it today to evaluate it,” White said. “So, Sid certainly has the opportunity to come and influence. We’ve seen her throughout her career and I love the fact that we have a girlfriend.
This article was originally published in Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever.
