Caitlin Clark injury reaction: What's next for Indiana Fever star

Across her 4 years successful Iowa and her archetypal play arsenic a pro with the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark had ne'er missed a game. Until now, aft the Fever announced connected Monday that Clark volition beryllium retired astatine slightest 2 weeks with a near quad strain.

Clark had been constricted successful the preseason with what she described arsenic tightness successful her near quad, though the squad did not explicitly accidental successful the announcement whether this wounded was an aggravation of that erstwhile issue.

It hasn't been a cleanable commencement to the play for the Fever, who are 2-2 with constrictive losses to the Atlanta Dream and defending champion New York Liberty. Now a radical that is incorporating respective caller players volition beryllium without its violative conductor for the clip being. Clark leads the squad successful scoring astatine 19.0 points per crippled and leads the league successful assists astatine 9.3 dimes per contest.

ESPN breaks down what we cognize astir Clark's wounded and the interaction it'll person connected the championship-minded Fever.

What games bash we cognize Clark volition miss?

Kendra Andrews: The Fever's existent two-week timeline rules Clark retired of 4 games, minimum: astatine the Washington Mystics, astatine location against the Connecticut Sun and Mystics, and connected the roadworthy astatine the Chicago Sky.

Clark's reexamination day is acceptable for June 9 -- but that's erstwhile she'll beryllium examined again, not needfully erstwhile she'll beryllium capable to return.

Indiana plays successful Atlanta connected June 10 and past has a four-day interruption earlier its adjacent crippled hosting the New York Liberty.

Recovery from a quad strain could scope from a fewer weeks to respective months, truthful astatine this point, the grade of Clark's lack is hard to tell.

What does this mean for the Fever?

Michael Voepel: At 2-2, Indiana's 2 losses are by a combined 3 points. Seven of the Fever's adjacent 8 games are against teams they apt should beryllium favored against adjacent without Clark, but their borderline for mistake is overmuch little now. The different crippled successful that agelong is against New York connected June 14, and Clark mightiness beryllium backmost by then.

If determination were a alleged "good" clip successful the play for this to happen, it's now. Not due to the fact that the Fever tin instrumentality immoderate of the upcoming opponents for granted, but due to the fact that it gives the squad an accidental to spot however it tin play without 1 of the league's champion players -- and who volition measurement forward. What the Fever players larn astir themselves successful the adjacent mates of weeks could beryllium invaluable down the line.

Coach Stephanie White has talked astir the Fever needing to amended erstwhile Clark doesn't person the shot successful her hands, and present Indiana volition person to bash that portion Clark is sidelined. It's not going to beryllium easy, but they person nary choice.

How volition Indiana effort to regenerate Clark's production?

Voepel: Clark has been a workhorse passim her hoops career, and her teams are utilized to her being connected the court.

But the Fever person options and volition apt spell with a constituent defender by committee. We tin look astatine however the minutes were distributed successful their preseason 79-74 overtime triumph against the Mystics connected May 3 (Clark didn't play due to the fact that of a limb injury). Veteran constituent defender Sydney Colson, brought to Indiana this play aft winning 2 titles with Las Vegas, started and played 15 minutes. Starting shooting defender Kelsey Mitchell played 28 minutes. Guards Sophie Cunningham (34 minutes) and Lexie Hull (33) came disconnected the bench.

Saturday against New York, Hull (26 minutes) moved into the starting lineup and forward/guard DeWanna Bonner (23) shifted to the seat with Cunningham (20). Clark played 38 minutes and Mitchell 34, portion Colson didn't get into the game.

Alexa Philippou: While the Fever bash person much extent this play acknowledgment to their offseason moves, Clark accounts for truthful overmuch of their violative accumulation that it'll beryllium hard to marque up for that. So acold this season, Indiana's violative standing is 107.5 with Clark connected the level and 82.2 successful 20 minutes with her disconnected it. Assuming their scoring output takes a deed without Clark, that'll enactment unit connected the Fever's defence to measurement up adjacent much truthful they tin prime up immoderate wins that way.

What does this wounded mean for Clark's season?

Voepel: Missing games is caller for Clark truthful determination is simply a intelligence facet to dealing with the wounded arsenic good arsenic the physical. Expect that she volition beryllium precise engaged successful games from the sideline, encouraging her teammates. Clark was the preseason betting favourite for MVP (not that that's her concern; she hasn't talked astir immoderate idiosyncratic grant goals, lone squad objectives). Of course, immoderate clip without Clark is worrisome for Indiana. But provided Clark tin instrumentality successful a tenable clip frame, the Fever shouldn't person to mean their semipermanent expectations.

Andrews: As agelong arsenic her quad heals decently -- and she doesn't travel backmost earlier she's ready, further injuring herself -- there's nary crushed to judge this wounded should person a large interaction connected Clark's season, oregon immoderate idiosyncratic oregon squad accolades she and the Fever are playing for. Even if she misses a period total, determination is much than capable clip near successful the play for her to marque a lawsuit for herself for MVP. As a team, yes, the Fever are worse disconnected without Clark. But if her teammates tin support Indiana afloat during her absence, they should inactive beryllium considered a competitory playoff team. The information that this wounded occurred truthful aboriginal successful the play should springiness the Fever and Clark assurance that their semipermanent goals for this twelvemonth are not lost.