For the fifth straight WNBA regular season, Indiana Fever will be without star guard Kate Linklark. She missed the game due to a left quadriceps injury and was declared out by the team, according to ESPN.
On Saturday night, the Los Angeles Sparks were firing on all cylinders. Indiana holds a 9-8 record this season, while the Sparks have struggled with a 5-13 mark.
Clark has missed nine regular season games in total. This year, she played for the Minnesota Lynx, which leads the league in Indiana state, and has appeared in 10 Commissioner’s Cup finals.
The left quad injury sidelined Clark for the first time this season. After missing five games, she returned for five more before being sidelined again with the new groin injury.
Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, five rebounds, and 2.6 three-pointers per game in her second season, following a standout collegiate career with the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Neither in college nor her rookie WNBA season did Clark miss any games over five seasons. Indiana head coach Stephanie White shared that Clark wasn’t at full strength and was listed on the injury report.
Indiana currently sits third in the Eastern Conference, while Los Angeles is seventh in the West. Clark’s next potential game is against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday.
Fan Take: Kate Linklark’s absence is a significant blow to the Fever’s chances this season, underscoring how vital healthy star players are to team success and fan engagement. Her return will be keenly anticipated, as it could shift the balance of power within the league and boost excitement around the WNBA.
